r -^^ 










vi^ "5 




^V*^ 


o Ji> 




^0^^ 


? ,<^^''^- b 






" ^ '^-""'"^ ' ' <^ " 


* e H ■" O^ 



n* --j.-^' 



^ • o , o ' ^V O * , , , . V - o « ' O.^^ 






* ^^o '" ^'5^^ .-'. ^<^^''"*' o^"^ 






\r 










?.•/ v^\- %"--?.r-\o*^' %-:^>t.\.-' \ 




/& 'jpfl^- A «. •!«,^'v -f. 




'rrU'>oti,!*;ij[<AriaiN>gf''/i'i 
OND-ffijMmir 

i I iiMJ'rlf'lKI' '.JULY- >*,>'' 
UHUf';K-'!"r(f';'A(A'^P(Ci 






1 I 






liKONZK TAHLKT OK THK MEMORIAL. 



THE 
CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

OF THE 

Battle of Lundy's Lane 

JULY TWENTY-FIFTH 

NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN 



'History is the witness of the times, 
the torch of truth, the life of mem- 
ory, the teacher of life, the messenger 
of antiquity. ' ' — Cicero. 



Compiled by a Cofumittee of the Lundy^s Lane Historical Society 



PUBLISHED BY THE 

LUNDY'S LANE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING 



NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA 

1919 






Gift 

Society 
AFg 11 l$Z9 



Typ„r..ing by F. H. Leslie, Um\t,d, Niajara Fall,, Ontario 
Prc.work and Binding by The Review Company, Bridgeburj, Ontario. 



\9 
» 



O 

»^^ 

^>^ 






Prefatory Note 



The Committee appointed by the Lundy's Lane His- 
torical Society to compile and publish this report has 
included therein every available item of importance or 
interest relating to the Centenary Commemoration. The 
various phases of the function have been classified and 
arranged in separate parts, to present the subject in a 
more connected form. 

WILLIAM WALLIS, 
ROBERT W. GEARY, 
JAMES C. MORDEN, 

Committee. 



Contents 

PART I. 

Page 

Introduction 9 

A Short Account of the Battle of Lundy's Lane 13 

Organization of Committees, Plans and Features, for 

the Centenary 19 

Progress of the Preliminary Work 20 

Financial Arrangements 20 

The Invitations 21 

The Programme 21 

Order of Procession 22 

The Street Decorations 23 

The Day Before 23 

The Battle of Lundy's Lane 24 

PART II. 

The Day 31 

Reception and Luncheon at the Clifton Hotel 31 

The Procession 31 

The Speakers' Dais 32 

The Centenary Commemoration Ceremonies on Drum- 

mond Hill 32 

Address of Mayor Dores 33 

Address of the Lieutenant-Governor 33 

Patriotic Anthem — By the School-Children 35 

Address of Dr. Alexander Fraser — Provincial Archivist 35 
Historical Decoration of the British and American 

Monuments 42 

Address of the Hon. Peter A. Porter 42 



Special Decoration of the Oldest Grave and the Battle 

Monument , 45 

Address of Dr. James H. Coyne, F.R.S.C 45 

Recitation — "The Battle of Lundy's Lane" — Lieut.-Col. 

F. W. MacQueen 51 

Address of George D. Emerson 55 

Addres of Clarance M. Warner 63 

Presentation of Medals 66 

Sonnet — Miss Janet Carnochan 66 

Address of Frank H. Severance 67 

Address of Chief Hill 68 

Address of Supt. Smith, Six Nations Indians 68 

Conclusion of Programme at the Speakers' Dais 72 

Exhibition of Military and Artistic Antiquities 73 

The Centennial Medal 74 

Letters Respecting the Medal 75 

Decoration of Monuments and Graves in the Cemetery 77 

PART in. 

"Inspiring Lessons from the War of 1812" — "The 

Globe, Toronto 81 

"Peace and War Commemorated" — The Mail and 

Empire, Toronto 87 

"The Battle of Lundy's Lane"— From The Mail and 

Empire 90 

"Keep Centenary of Famous Fight"— "The World," 

Toronto 94 

"Enormous Crowd at Celebration of the Battle of 

Lundy's Lane" — The Niagara Falls Review 96 

"Peace Has Victory on Field of Lundy's Lane" — Niag- 
ara Falls (N.Y.) Journal 105 



"Anniversary of Great Battle of Lundy's Lane is Com- 
memorated in Song and Patriotic Speeches" — The 

Niagara Falls Gazette 113 

One Hundred Years After the Battle of Lundy's Lane 116 

The Speaking at Lundy's Lane — Globe Editorial .... 118 

Lundy's Lane — Gazette Editorial 118 

Lundy's Lane— 1814-1914: A Poem. T. E. Moberly. . 120 

PART IV. 

Letters of Regret — The Gov.-General, The Prime Min- 
ister of Canada, Sir James Whitney, Sir Wilfrid 
Laurier 125 

PART V. 

Impressions of the Day — Miss Janet Carnochan 137 

Report to Ottawa Women's Historical Society — Mrs. 

Simpson 139 

Special Report to the Ontario Historical Society by 

President of L. L. H. S 143 

The New Lundy's Lane Centenary Memorial 148 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society 149 

Officers of Tlie Lundy's Lane H-istorical Society 151 

Publications of The Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 152 



Introduction 



THIS book will give some idea of the celcbralion of 
the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle of 
Lundy's Lane, as arranged and carried out by the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society on the 25th of July, 1914. 

It is not pubhshed with any other aim than to hand 
down the full particulars of what was a most successful 
and enthusiastic commemoration of the decisive battle 
fought on Drummond Hill one hundred years before, 'llie 
writer was an active participant in the Celebration, and 
having the good fortune to reside on the historic battle 
ground, is particularly interested in the recording of the 
event. The completion of the account of the celebration 
before the various documents and papers have been lost, 
and while the event is still fresh in the memory of the 
members of the Society, will give assurance to the reader 
that the account is correct. 

The Society is grateful for the assistance and hearty co- 
operation of the Mayor, the City Council, and the citizens 
of Niagara Falls and vicinity. 

The nearness of the occasion to the proposed great 
Peace Celebration, which was to have been held throughout 
the Empire in 1915, did not, as anticipated by many, detract 
interest from this event. But on the contrary, it was felt 
that this occasion would have been a fitting forecast of the 
Empire-wide peace celebration so soon to follow. But on 
the very day that fifteen thousand people gathered to talk 
of victory and peace on the old Drummond Hill battle 
ground, the Servian reply to the Austrian ultimatum was 
declared unsatisfactory, diplomatic relations were broken 



10 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

off, and the torch was lighted that fired the great European 
war. 

The occasion of this celebration marked the last official 
appearance of many of Canada's militia, for events moved 
so (juickly that it was not long before many of the same 
men who took part in the ceremonies of the day, were fight- 
ing side by side with their brothers of the Empire on the soil 
of France. It is hoped that the memory of this glorious 
mid-summer day on the Drummond Hill battle-field will 
long be a pleasant memory to all the officers and men 
present. 

There is nothing to mark the battle field but the old 
graveyard and the striking monolith erected by the 
Dominion Government. This monument stands guard over 
the sacred dust where so many brave and true defenders 
of Canada gave their lives for the land they loved. The 
woods and country by-paths are all gone. No more the 
farm lad drives his cattle along narrow^ paths. Long since 
the snake-fence has disappeared and the stranger looks in 
vain for some signs of the conflict. The battle field is now 
appropriately crowned with a place of worship where the 
followers of the Prince of Peace meet to pay tribute to Him 
who sitteth in the heavens. 

Througli the wisdom and liberality of the Ontario 
Government, the battle field has been placed under the 
supervision of the Queen Victoria Park Commission, and 
the spot has been transfomied into a place of beauty. 
Choice flowers give forth their fragrance and well kept 
pathways invite the stranger to walk among the stones that 
mark the resting place of the heroic dead. Here rests in 
her long sleep the brave Laura Secord. Here awaiting the 
last ciill will be found the resting place of many a hero, 
whose name is recorded on the roll of the nation's brave 
defenders. Here with its shaft piercing the sunlight is the 
great monument erected by a grateful government. To one 
side is the steel flag-staff from which ever floats the flag 



INTRODUCTION 11 

of the nation. To the west and none the less honored is 
the stone placed by the American Landmarks Association 
to mark the resting place of the Americans who fell in the 
same engagement. 

Up and down Lundy's Lane there passes tne commerce 
of a busy prosperous people. Broad streets and beautiful 
homes stand forth in the summer light. The music of the 
mighty cataract, an eternal requiem, ceaselessly chants a 
psalm of peace, not too near to disturb and not too far to 
be lost in din of a modern city. The stream of commerce 
threads its impassioned way hither and thither, while the 
dead sleep on, and the living meditate on the greatness 
and brevity of human life. 

WILLIAM WALLIS, 
Drummond Hill Manse, Niagara Falls. 



A SHORT ACCOUNT OF 
THE BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE 

By R. W. GEARY, 

Preiident of the Lundy's L»ne Historical Society (From Historical Sketches) 

How sleep the brave, who sink to rest 
By all their countrv^s wishes blest (^ " 

THE Battle of Lundy's Lane was fought on the heights 
near the Falls of Niagara, on July 25th, 181 4, be- 
tween 3,000 British and Canadian troops, in com- 
mand of General Sir Gordon Drummond, and the invachng 
American army of 4,000 men — in three brigades — under 
Major-General Brown and Generals Scott, Ripley and Porter. 
The declining sun shone bright and cloudless as the 
troops of the opposing armies, with drums beating and 
colours flying, marched gallantly to their positions in the 
field. On the summit of the hill a battery of 24-pounder 
guns was advanced some distance in front of the indomi- 
table "89th" Regiment, the "8th King's," and the "1st" or 
"Royal Scots" — the oldest regiment in the British Army. 
These famous regiments occupied the northern slope of 
the hill, in support of the guns, and formed the British 
centre. With the additional troops of the "41st," "103rd," 
"Canadian MiUtia," "Glengarry," "104th," and other regi- 
ments, the British line of battle was extended in the form 
of an irregular crescent facing the south and south-east, its 
left wing (under Gen. Riall) crossing the Portage Road, 
near the junction with Lundy's Lane, and reaching a few 
hundred yards further east. The right wing stretched 
westward along the north side of Lundy's Lane for a short 
distance, then curved to the south, through an orchard and 
a field of wheat, to the dense woods beyond, where a body 
of Indians formed its extremity. 



14 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

The strategic importance of the British position com- 
pensated somewhat for Drmiimond's unequal numbers, as 
no better ground could be chosen for resisting an attack. 

The battle began at half-past five in the evening, with 
a charge by the Americans on the whole British front, the 
attack being chiefly directed against the centre and left. 
The centre attack was repelled by a deadly fire of grape 
from the artillery on the height, but after repeated attacks 
the left w^as forced back and General Riall wounded and 
taken prisoner — with a number of his men. The "9th," 
"11th," and "22nd" U. S. Infantry then charged impetu- 
ously upon the guns, and, after a desperate fight, were 
repulsed by the "89th," "King's" and "Royals," who had 
advanced to their support — the assailants retiring in great 
confusion with heavy loss. Again the Americans advanced 
in great force and concentrated a terrible fire from nine 
pieces of artillery against the British centre. A fierce artil- 
lery duel followed, in which the British guns maintained 
their superiority, one U. S. company losing twenty-seven 
out of thirty-six men serving three guns, before retiring. 

Again and again were determined attacks made by 
the gallant foe, and met by the British w^ith great steadiness 
and intrepid gallantry. Drummond's despatch states that 
— "These troops repeatedly, when hard pressed, formed 
round the colours of the '89th' regiment, and invariably 
repulsed the attacks made against them." 

By the faint light of the smoke-obscured moon, the 
battle continued to rage. In a brilliant and successful 
flank attack by Col. Miller's regiment, its approach being 
concealed by a thicket, all the British gunners were killed 
or wounded by a single volley at close range, and the guns 
on the hill captured by the Americiins, amicl' a most 
destructive musketry fire from the British infantry. Then 
followed a series of furious bayonet charges and fierce 
attacks by the British. With wild shouts of defiance their 
remaining guns were brought up, and the contending forces 



A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE 15 

swept the hill with a deadly fire of artillery and musketry 
at short range — with fearful loss on both sides. 

During this prolonged and desperate contest, General 
Scott, who had two horses killed under him, was struck 
twice and, being badly wounded, was carried off the iield. 
A musket shot went through General Ripley's hat. General 
Brown was shot through the thigh and shortly after struck 
by a ball in the side and seriously hurt. He made over the 
command to General Ripley, and retired to his camp. Gen- 
eral Porter also received a wound and General Drummond 
was dangerously wounded in the neck, and had his horse 
shot dead. The conflict now became a close and confused 
struggle amidst the battle's smoke and the darkness of 
night, until finally Capt. Glew, at the head of the gallant 
"41st" regiment, by a splendid effort, regained the British 
guns and the heights. The fighting continued until mid- 
night, when the Americans, having three generals disabled 
and nearly one-third of their number killed and wounded, 
fell back to the south side of the Chippawa— leaving the 
British in possession of the field. 

The British loss in the engagement equalled that of 
the Americans, the 89th Royal Irish Regiment, who bore 
the brunt of the battle, losing 254 men out of a total of 400, 
and the "Royal Scots" lost nearly 200 men out of 500 in the 
field. Scott's 1st American Brigade, at the close of the 
action, was reduced to a few hundred effective men, and a 
company of the 23rd Infantry that went out with forty-five 
lost all but nine men. 

The result of the Battle of Lundy's Lane was of great 
importance to Upper Canada, as the invasion was checked 
and the American army thrown back on Fort Erie, where 
it remained on the defensive until shortly before the end of 
the war. 

The fallen heroes of that fateful night sleep well upon 
this famous hill, where the sounds of Niagara's war of 
waters forever rise and fall above their honored graves. 




LUN1)Y S LANK liATTLK MONUMENT. 



PART I 



PLANS 

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS 

AND 

PROGRAMME 

OF THE 
CELEBRATION 



ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES 



PLANS AND FEATURES OF THE CENTENARY 

AS the Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's 
Lane drew near, it became more and more evident 
that the inhabitants of the Niagara District, and 
the Province generally, were expecting that this important 
historical Centennial would be publicly celebrated in an 
impressive, loyal and imposing manner. 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society — which for over 
a quarter of a century had been actively engaged in pro- 
moting the historic interests of the Niagara Frontier, began 
forming its plans long in advance to gratify this patriotic 
desire of the people, and early in 1914 a meeting of the 
Executive Committee of the Society was held for the con- 
sideration of the following phases of the celebration of the 
Centenary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane: 1st, the part the 
school children are to have in it; 2nd, the decoration 
scheme; 3rd, addresses by prominent men; 4th, military 
display; 5th, the question of a procession; 6th, the question 
of floral decorations; 7th, the display of relics of historical 
interest; 8th, invitations to prominent men; 9th, the ques- 
tion of souvenirs for the occasion; 10th, the question of 
inviting old founders and members of the Lundy's Lane 
Historical Society. The above ten suggestions outHned by 
the President at the last meeting were made the basis of 
the proposed celebration. 

The following committees were appointed for the pur- 
pose of considering the various phases of the work: Decor- 
ation Committee — R. W. Geary, chairman; and Messrs. C. C. 
Cole and R. Chisholm. Addresses and the Invitation Com- 
lyiittee — R. W. Geary, chairman; and Messrs. W. H. Arison, 



20 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

J. H. Jackson, Charles Patten, Major J. A. Vandersluys, 
Rev. Canon Bevan, Rev. Dr. \Vm. Wallis. Ladies' Organ- 
izations — Mrs. (Dr.) Birdsall and Miss S. Crysler. Military 
Display and Procession Committee — Dr. W. W. Thompson, 
chairman; Major J. A. Vandersluys, Capt. C. H. Vander- 
slujs. Floral Decoration Committee — H. L. Morphy, chair- 
man, Miss J. Barnett and J. C. Morden. Exhibition of Rehcs 
Committee — R. Chisholm, chairman; J. C. Morden and R. 
W. Geary. Badge and Souvenir Committee — Dr. W. W. 
Thompson, chairman; Major J. A. Vandersluys, R. W. 
Geary, Misses M. Butters and J. Barnett. Printing and Pub- 
licity Committee — W. H. Arisen, chairman; J. H. Jackson, 
Geo. Bielby and E. R. Dewart. Financial Committee — J. IL 
Jackson, chairman; Dr. W. W. Thompson and C. C. Cole. 
The various matters pertaining to these committees were 
reported on at the meeting held Tuesday, March 3rd. 

Progress of the Preliminary Work. 

All the Special Committees at once set to work to 
arrange their separate undertakings and. reported their 
progress frequently at meetings of the Executive. School 
children were trained in singing patriotic anthems; battle- 
field and street decoration schemes were formulated; the 
military and procession arrangements were all made; an 
exhibition of historical relics was decided on; prominent 
historians from Canada and the United States were to be 
invited to take part in the ceremonies; medals and badges 
agreed upon; reduced fares on all railway and steamboat 
lines secured; advertising and publicity matters attended 
to, and the ladies' organizations perfected. 

Financial Arrangements. 

The matter of financing the function was of great 

importance. An application was made by the Lundy's 

Lane Ilislorical Society to the Right lion, the Premier, Sir 

Robert L. Borden, for financial assistance, and after con- 





/ 



'H. z 



M 



fe) 



B^ 














S 












5* 


u 












r^ 


.3 












•J 


s 

3 






1 




5 


a 


'"c 


o 


^- 


■^ 




S 


i^: 






3 






@ 




^ 


A 


-g" 


.g 










.'■^ 


1 


= 


_^ 


?^: 




J:i 


"-■i 


-J 


"S 


i; 


a 




s 


/Ci 


■^" 


^ 


-Tl 


b 




ja: . 


r 5 


St 

-— 


c 


"O 


5* 






f^ 


,c 


3 


??v 








/C 










C4 


-jj 


1 


K 




^ 


ly 


^^ 


:g 


j: 


g 




^ 




W-. 




'^' 


3. 




^ 


y 


t 


r5 


- 


" 




O 


c 


^ 




^ 


's 




j^ 


















.s 






^ 




E 


■g 


"H 












f$ 


i 












i^ 


u 




























"5» 












^ 


Q 












nn 





M 
■ 

■ 


DY'S 

NE 

RICAL 




M 
H 
M 
M 
M 


nized 
1887 




■ 


sc vk %^ 


Cd 


« 






M 


^9 " 1^ 




H 






^m ^^ eg 


CO 




O < 






SB 









PLANS AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS 21 

siderable correspondence the Premier kindly placed the 
item asked for in the Supplementary Estimates for the 
year, and the Dominion Government granted the sum of 
two thousand dollars towards the expenses of the Cele- 
bration. 



The Invitations. 

Invitations were sent to H. R. H. the Duke of Con- 
naught, Governor-General of Canada; Sir Robert L. Bor- 
den, Prime Minister; the Minister of Militia; Sir Wilfrid 
Laurier; Sir James Whitney, Premier of Ontario, and to 
other prominent men of all professions throughout the 
Province; the President and Members of the U. E. Loyalists 
Association of Canada; the President and Members of the 
Ontario Historical Society and to the twenty-eight Historical 
Societies in Ontario; to the forty-three Chapters of the 
"Daughters of the Empire," and to Veteran and Patriotic 
Societies. Distinguished Historians of the United States 
were invited also; military men and citizens of the Ameri- 
can Frontier and historical and patriotic organizations. 
The Mayor and Council of Niagara Falls City and City 
Officials, Educational, and all other local institutions, and 
officials received invitations, and many prominent citizens. 
The Society was careful to include the Old Settlers of this 
community and the descendants of U. E. Loyalists and of 
military men of 1812-14. 



Completion of Preliminary Arrangements 
and Programme of Centenary 

After all arrangements were made the Programme was completed, 

printed and widely distributed. The following is the 

Programme of the Celebration : 

Reception and luncheon at the Clifton Hotel in honour of the 
Lieut.-Governor, the Distinguished Guests and Officers Commanding 
the Military. 



22 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

All school children are to assemble at the reception booth corner 
Main and Ferry Streets at 1.45 p.m., when they will be assigned to 
position for the ceremonies. 

Procession will be formed at the Armoury, Victoria and Armoury 
Avenues, under the command of Lt.-Colonel Fred W. Hill, commanding 
44th Regiment. 

The military and other bodies will assemble at the Armoury at 1.30 
p.m. and will be assigned to positions. 



Order of Procession 



1. Military contingents representing all branches of the Canadian 

Service in order of march as directed, accompanied by the 19th 
Regiment Band. 

2. Veteran Associations of Ontario. 

3. Chiefs of Six Nations and other Indians. 

4. Niagara Falls C. I. Cadets. 

5. Citizens' Band of Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

6. Ontario Historical Society. 

7. His Worship Mayor O. E. Dores and Board of Aldermen of Niagara 

Falls, Ontario. 

8. United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada. 

9. His Honor Mayor Wm. Laughlin and the Common Council of 

Niagara Falls, N.Y. 

10. The Niagara Frontier Historical Society of Niagara Falls, N.Y. 

11. Historical and Patriotic Societies of both nations. 

12. City and County School Boards. 

13. Centenary Peace Celebration Committees of Niagara Falls, Ontario, 

and Niagara Falls, N. Y. 

14. Civic and Fraternal Societies. 

15. Citizens — British and American. 

16. Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

Procession will move at two o'clock sharp. On arrival at the monu- 
ment on the Battle Field the ceremonies will be opened by 

1. Invocation — Rev. Andrew D. Robb. 

2. Address of Welcome — Mayor Oliver E. Dores. 

3. Address — His Honor Sir John M. Gibson, Lt.-Governor of Ontario. 

Col. the Hon. Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and 
Defence. 

4. Music — "The Maple Leaf Forever" sung by the School Children. 

5. Historical decoration of the monument and graves of those who 

fell in the battle by a committee of twelve Canadian ana Ameri- 
can young ladies: 

Niagara Falls, Ontario Niagara Falls, N. Y. 

Miss Grace Geary Miss Helen Kammerer 



Verena Zybach 
Gertrude Lundy 
Catharine Butters 
Marguerite Morse 
Winifred Olmsted 



Leah Turney 
Margaret Cain 
Mattie McGahey 
Hazel Hulls 
Marion Deveaux 



During which the Military Band will play "Abide With Me." 



PLANS AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS 23 

6. Patriotic and Historical address by Dr. Alexander Fraser, F.R.S.C., 

Provincial Archivist of Ontario; Hon. Peter A. Porter, North 
Tonawanda, N.Y.; Mr. Clarence M. Warner, Pres. Ontario His- 
torical Society; Mr. George D. Emerson, Buffalo, N.Y.; Dr. 
James H. Coyne, F.R.S.C, St. Thomas, Ont.; Col. Fred Mc- 
Queen will recite Duncan Campbell Scott's poem, "The Battle 
of Lundy's Lane"; Mr. Frank H. Severance, Sec'y Buffalo His- 
torical Society; Miss Janet Carnochan will read a Sonnet; 
Chief Hill of the Six Nations; Rev. Dr. Wm. Wallis, Niagara 
Falls, Ontario, and others. 

7. Presentation of commemorative medals to the distinguished guests 

by R. W. Geary, Pres. Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 
There will be an exhibit of military relics of the Battle of 

Lundy's Lane. Domestic relics of the U. E. L. and early settlers 

near the monument. 
The publications of the Society, commemorative medals and 

badges, will be on sale at convenient places for any who desire 

to get them. 
R. W, GEARY, President. JOHN H. JACKSON, C.E., Sec.-Treas. 

W. H. ARISON, Chairman of Celebration Committee. 
GOD SAVE THE KING. 

The Street Decorations 

The Decorations of Lundy's Lane from Main Street 
to the Battle-field were carried out in a most artistic and 
brilliant manner. The entrance was spanned by a wide 
arch draped with large British and American flags and 
enriched with Banners with the names of Generals Drum- 
mond and Brown, and the Royal Crown and monogram in 
the centre. Above all being the inscription — "100th Anni- 
versary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane" — while continuing 
up the Lane in lavish display were lines of many colored 
bunting, crossed flags, banners and inscriptions — all inter- 
mingling with the fine foliage of the old shade trees, and 
forming a magnificent avenue to the historic Battle-field. 
The other principal streets throughout the city were also 
decorated, and citizens everywhere displayed flags in honor 
of the occasion. 

The Day Before. 

Editorial article from "The Globe," Toronto, of July 
24th, 1914, being an excellent review of the subject of the 
pending Commemoration: 



24 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

The Battle of Lundy's Lane. 

On the twenty-fifth of July, 1814, there was fought 
near Niagara Falls what is known in history as the "Battle 
of Lundy's Lane," and to-morrow the centenary of the con- 
flict will be duly commemorated on the battleground by a 
programme inclusive of both Canada and the United States. 
The occasion will be in some ways unique, and those who 
fmd themselves able to participate in the function may well 
regard themselves as fortunate. The speakers, who have 
been chosen from both countries, will no doubt make clear 
the century-old situation in detail and on the very site of 
the heroic struggle; all that need be attempted here is to 
call attention to the international significance of the battle 
and its centennial commemoration. 

That significance cannot clearly be discerned without 
taking account of the course of events leading up to it. 
The war of 1812-15 was declared by the United States 
against the United Kingdom in June, 1812, on several 
grounds: the impressment of British seamen who had gone 
into the American naval service, the assertion by Great 
Britain of the right to search American war vessels to find 
such deserters, the blockades of European ports with the 
consequent interference with American commerce, and the 
alleged efforts of Great Britain to stir up the Western 
Indians to attack the United States. The war dragged on 
wearily and ineffectively, partly beaause the American 
people w^ere divided in opinion as to the justification for it 
on grounds of either principle or expediency, partly because 
Great Britain was very much pre-occupied by her share in 
the Napoleonic wars, and partly because the Canadian 
people put up an unexpectedly effective and successful 
defence against tlie invasions of their territory. Into the 
details of the militaiy and naval struggle during the two 
years and three campaigns it is not necessary or practicable 
to go; it must suffice to say that owing to the course of 
calculated events and the chapter of undesigned accidents 




LUNDY'S LANE— THE DAY BEFORE. 




INTERNATIONAL ARCH AT THE ENTRANCE TO LUNDY'S LANE. 



PLANS AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS 25 

the final battle of the final campaign was fought at Lundy's 
Lane almost precisely two years from the declaration of 
war. 

The physical features of the boundary between the two 
countries brought the Niagara Peninsula into prominence 
during the whole of the war. The first invasion of Can- 
adian territory took place at Detroit, but the first fighting 
was done at Niagara; General Brock was the hero of both 
occasions, for he captured Detroit in August and was killed 
while repelling the invasion of Queenston in October. After 
a long series of detached conflicts by sea and land, and 
many fluctuations in the general movement of attack on 
the one side and defence on the other, the American Gov- 
ernment made preparations for a supreme attempt at the 
heart of Canada by one more invasion of the Niagara Pen- 
insula. A large and well-equipped force crossed from 
Buff'alo to Fort Erie under three able and experienced 
Generals: Brown, Scott, and Ripley. Opposed to this army 
was a less numerous one made up very largely of Canadian 
volunteers under the command of General Riall. Fort Erie 
was taken without delay on the second of July, and on the 
fifth General Riall was defeated at Chippawa and forced 
to retire on his entrenchments there. After a few days he 
found himself constrained to move towards Queenston to 
save his communications to the rear, but on his way he met 
General Drummond with a contingent of British Peninsular 
veterans, and the two armies met at Lundy's Lane. To the 
fortunate fact that Wellington's last victory, won at 
Toulouse on the tenth of April, had released his troops for 
service in Canada, may be attributed the repulse of the 
invaders, whose final retirement from Canadian territory 
took place on the fifth of November. 

The Battle of Lundy's Lane — the last fight of the last 
campaign of the last war between the United States and 
the United Kingdom — stands out in history with a factitious 
prominence that can never be discounted or impaired; 



26 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

l)ut it is interesting for another reason: it is one of the 
few critical battles in history in which both armies were 
victorious and both were defeated. For a hundred years 
it has been matter of persistent disputation which side 
really won; Canadians will probably be content with the 
qualified admission of ex-President Roosevelt that his coun- 
trymen were defeated because they retired from the field 
without any attempt to renew the conflict; but on the other 
hand they retired in good order and were not closely pur- 
sued. It is easy to say now that it is better so, because it 
enables Canadians and Americans to co-operate in the com- 
memoration proceedings without any embarrassment due 
either to a sense of humihation or to a suspicion of con- 
descension. Each side found a worthy foe and each has 
proved a good loser. 

Everything in Readiness. 

The day before the celebration it was well said by one 
of the newspapers: Everything is in readiness for the grand 
celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's 
Lane which will be held to-morrow afternoon. A meeting 
of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, who have under- 
taken, and did arrange the complete programme of the 
commemoration, will be held this evening to give final 
instructions to those who will participate in the event 
which promises to be one of the finest in the history of the 
Niagara Frontier and will be rivalled only by the peace 
celebration to be held here in 1915. 

The Society has been busy for weeks making prepar- 
ations for the centenary celebration and have been untiring 
in their eff"orts to carry out the event on an elaborate and 
mammoth scale. The work of making arrangements was 
divided into eight sections and committees appointed to 
handle the different branches of the work, with the result 
that the celebration will be one of the largest and most 
successful in the history of the Dominion. 



PLANS AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS 27 

The decorative scheme will be on an elaborate scale. 
All the graves of the soldiers who fell in the battle will be 
decorated with flags and flowers and graves of citizens 
who are buried in the historic cemetery, will be decorated 
as well. 

The celebration will be featured with a magnilicent 
military display, troops from all parts of the Province will 
be here for the event and will take part in the parade. 

Mayor Dores has proclaimed a half holiday for the 
celebration so that the general public will have an oppor- 
tunity of attending. 

Silver medals have been struck which will be pre- 
sented to the distinguished guests. 

The school children will play an important part in the 
affair. They will be attired in patriotic costumes and 
render national airs. Each will carry a flag. 

The speakers will be Sir John M. Gibson, Lieutenant- 
Governor of Ontario; Hon. Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia; 
Mayor Dores; Dr. Alex. Eraser, F. R. S. M. S., Provincial 
Archivist of Ontario; Hon. Peter A. Porter, North Tona- 
wanda; Clarence M. Warner, President of the Ontario His- 
torical Society; George D. Emerson, Buffalo; Dr. J. H. 
Coyne, F.R.S.C., St. Thomas; Col. F. McQueen, F, H. Sev- 
erance, Buffalo, N.Y.; the Chiefs of the Six Nations; Major 
Hill, of Brantford; Miss J. Carnochan. 

Visitors from the American side of the river and for 
miles around are expected in the city to-morrow to partici- 
pate in the celebration. A large number of United Empire 
Loyalists from Toronto will be present and excursions will 
be run from various points. 

The procession will be formed at the Armoury, Victoria 
avenue, under command of Lt.-Col. Hill of this city. 

Mr. R. W. Geary, President of the Historical Society, 
received a communication from the Indian Chiefs in re- 
sponse to an invitation to them to be present at the cele- 
bration of the Battle of Lundy's Lane to-morrow. The 
communication is as follows: 



28 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

R. \V. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

My Dear Sir: 

I beg to advise you that I laid the kind invitation of the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society before the Chiefs in Council 
to-day, and the Council appointed the following Chiefs to 
represent them at this important function: William D. 
Loft, Abram Lewis (Mohawks); H. M. Hill, David Jock 
(Senecas) ; David Jamieson, Jacob General (Cayugas) ; 
Josiah Hill, Richard Hill (Tuscaroras) ; William C. Hill, 
Peter Claus (Oneidas) ; David John, Laurence Jonathan 
(Onondagas), and Major Gorden J. Smith, Superintendent 
Six Nations. 

Yours very truly, 

JOSIAH HILL, 
Secretary Six Nations Council. 



PART II 



THE 

COMMEMORATION 

OF THE 

CENTENARY 

JULY 25, 1914 



THE DAY 

SATURDAY, July 25, 1914, was an ideal summer day, 
and the sun rose upon the city all bright with decor- 
ations for the great Centennial — for which the 
Mayor had proclaimed a holiday. 

Reception and Luncheon at the Clifton Inn. 

The proceedings commenced with a reception and 
luncheon at the Clifton Hotel, where a large number of 
distinguished visitors and local guests were entertained by 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society. Among them were 
Col. Sir John M. Gibson, K.C., Lieutenant-Governor of 
Ontario, and Lady Gibson; the Mayor of Niagara Falls 
City; the local Members of Parliament; the President and 
Members of the Ontario Historical Society; Dr. Alexander 
Fraser, Provincial Archivist, and Mrs. Fraser; Lieut.-Col. 
Hill and the Officers Commanding the Military Contin- 
gents; the President and Members of the U. E. Loyalist 
Association of Canada; the U. S. Chaplain, Fort Niagara; 
the British Vice-Consul, Buffalo, N.Y.; Miss Janet Car- 
nochan, Niagara; W. Houston, M.A., Toronto; Mrs. J. B. 
Simpson, Ottawa; George R. Pattullo, Woodstock; T. E. 
Moberly, Osgoode Hall, Toronto; George D. Emerson, Buf- 
falo, and delegates from Historical and Patriotic Societies 
of both countries. 

The Procession. 

After luncheon the exercises began with a military 
and civil procession which formed at the Armoury, headed 
by the "19th" and '44th" Regimental Bands, and the mili- 
tary force under Col. Hill, from Toronto, Hamilton, St. 



32 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Catharines and surrounding districts, which included 
twelve contingents led by their own officers, and represent- 
ing every branch of the Mihtia of Canada; the City Council 
and Officials; Fenian Raid Veterans; Collegiate Institute 
Cadets, Boys' Scouts, the Citizens' Band, Historical and 
Patriotic Societies, Six Nation Indian Chiefs, the Niagara 
Falls Italian Band, Peace Delegates, and British and Ameri- 
can citizens. The procession moved along Victoria street 
•and up Ferry street to Lundy's Lane and passed on through 
the archway to the historic battle-ground, where great 
crowds awaited. 

The Speakers' Dais. 

The speakers' dais was erected near the monument, 
curtained with British and American flags, and hung with 
historical banners specially made and inscribed with the 
names of British and American officers and every regiment 
of both nations that took part in the battle — above all 
being the inscription : — 

"Upon this hill we pause and list to memories far," 
"When from this sacred height boomed forth the roar 
of war." 

The Centenary Commemoration Ceremonies 
on Drummond Hill. 

After the arrival of the procession on Drummond Hill, 
amidst the monuments and tombs of the nation's heroic 
dead beautified with flags and flowers, the scene on the 
Battle-field became most impressive and inspiring; the 
enthusiasm reached its height when the Military, Civic, His- 
torical and Patriotic Associations took up their allotted 
positions, and the vast assemblage of visitors and citizens 
formed round the speakers' platform — while the bands 
played "The Maple Leaf Forever." 

The assemblage was called to order by Mr. W. H. Ari- 
sen, First Vice-President of Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 33 

who acted as Chairman and Director of Ceremonies. After 
a few well-chosen preliminary remarks, Mr. Arison 
requested the Rev. A. D. Robb, of Morrison Street Methodist 
Church, to open the proceedings with an invocation. 

Address of Mayor Oliver E. Dores. 

Following the invocation the Mayor was called upon, 
p.nd responded by cordially welcoming to the City of 
Niagara Falls all the distinguished guests and visitors, and 
especially the citizens of the United States who were joining 
with us in the celebration. "One hundred years before we 
met as enemies, but now happily as friends." He felt great 
pleasure in having present the Lieutenant-Governor of this 
great Province, His Honor Sir John M. Gibson — a man who 
was esteemed and revered by all who knew him. 

Address of Sir John Gibson, 
Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. 
The Chairman then introduced His Honor, the Lieutenant- 
Governor, Sir John Gibson, who, on rising, was greeted 
with great applause. 

He stated that, on an occasion like the present, there 
was great danger of speakers forgetting that brevity has 
great merit, and that he might not become tedious, he had 
concluded to read the remarks he wished to make. He 
was grateful and returned thanks to the distinguished gath- 
ering present for their welcome to him. His presence that 
day was due as much to his desire to take part in these 
ceremonies from personal feelings, as in his public capacity 
as Lieutenant-Governor of this large province. He noted 
with great satisfaction that every feature of the proceedings 
had been fully provided for by numerous speakers. 

He then referred briefly to the war, referring to Stoney 
Creek, Queenston Heights and the immortal Sir Isaac 
Brock, who had for a time been one of his predecessors as 
Governor of the Province. The patriotic valor of our ances- 



S4 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

tors had given us a glorious heritage, and after 100 years 
of friendship war was unthinkahle now. The Battle of 
Lundy's Lane was one of the most stubhorn engagements 
that had taken place, the carnage appalling, and the havoc 
wrought by the charges awful. The bravery of Drummond 
and Riall was met by the equal bravery of Brown and Scott, 
so that the Battle, while being one of the best sustained, 
was also one of the most sanguinary. The desperate on- 
slaughts of the Americans to obtain the mastery was met by 
the valor of the British regulars and Canadian Militia, 
determined to hold the country. The Lincoln Mihtia of the 
Province was represented in this strenuous fight by the 
father of a lady, at present on that platform, and who was 
severely wounded. Too much honor could not be given to 
the early militia of this country for the part they took in the 
war, as also to the Indian braves. 

He trusted that after the lengthy period of peace, all 
causes of dispute had forever disappeared; there was room 
on this continent for two great Anglo-Saxon peoples to live 
in amity. We cling to the northern country through tics 
of filial affection, with the certain prospect of becoming a 
great nation. It was necessary for our future material 
growth and national greatness, that we had survived the 
colonial stage, wise statesmanship would later define more 
clearly our relations to the mother country. It was our 
amlntion to attain a high position among the nations, to 
hold the best relations with the United States, but never 
ceasing to sing "God Save the King." 

Letters of Regret. 

Letters of regret were read from H. R. H. the Duke of 
Connaught, Governor-General of Canada; the Hon. the Pre- 
mier, Sir Robert L. Borden; Sir James Whitney, Premier 
of Ontario; the Minister of Education, Lieut.-Col. Cruik- 
shank, and others. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 35 

''The Maple Leaf Forever.'' 

The large choir of school girls, under Prof. Charles 
Bennett Kaye, then sang "The Maple Leaf Forever," fol- 
lowed by the Military Bands, amid great enthusiasm. 

Address of Dr. Alexander Fraser, 
Provhiciai Arch mist 

Alexander Fraser, LL.D. Litt. D., F.S.A. Scot. (Edin.), 
the Ontario Archivist, said: As I have been asked to say a 
few words on one or two of the historical aspects of the 
War, I shall first read to you the Act of Congress declaring 
war: 

"An Act declaring war between the United Kingdom 
cf Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof 
and the United States of America and their territories.'' 

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the United States of America, in Congress assem- 
bled, that war be, and the same is hereby declared to exist 
between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 
and the Dependencies thereof and the United States of 
America and their Territories, and that the President of 
the Ujiited States be, and is hereby authorized, to use the 
whole land and naval forces of the United States to carry 
the same into effect; and to issue to private armed vessels 
of the United States commissions or letters of marque and 
general reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper, and 
under the seal of the United States, against vessels, goods 
and effects of the Government of the said United Kingdom 
of Great Britain and Ireland and the subjects thereof." 

June 18, 1812. Approved, JAMES MADISON. 

The historical background of the 1812-1814 war has 
been filled in by many writers and need not be described 
at length on the present auspicious occasion. There are 
certain observations, however, that fall to be made that 
may not now, at this long interval of time from the event, 
be inopportune. As to the ostensible causes of the war we 



36 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

sliall do well, I believe, to dismiss them without comment. 
Usually they are summed up in what has almost become a 
school-book formula : 

1. THE ORDERS IN COUNCIL passed by Britain in 
1807, placing the whole coast of Europe under blockade in 
retahation for a similar blockade placed on Britain by 
Napoleon. The result was that American supplies for 
Europe became contraband of war and had to run the 
gauntlet of the all-powerful British navy, a restriction re- 
sented by the Americans. 

2. THE RIGHT OF SEARCH, which meant that 
Britain insisted as her right to search American vessels on 
the high seas for deserters from the British Navy, and to 
recover them. There was considerable feeling aroused by 
the process. Many British seamen deserted under, as Henry 
Adams relates (History U. S.), "the systematic encourage- 
ment offered to deserters in every seaport of the Union" 

. . and annoyance "which the American Government 
were unable to excuse or correct." "Fraudulent" naturahz- 
ation papers were issued to the deserters wdthout the least 
hesitation, "so as to protect them from impressment, or 
arrest, on the pretext that they were citizens of the United 
States." This was done in the face of Jay's treaty of 1794, 
and Federalists in the United States opposed to President 
Jefferson, "argued that war was threatened against Great 
Britain for the protection of British deserters." These and 
grievances of comparatively trivial import would have 
yielded, in the ordinary course of affairs, to a sympathetic 
diplomacy. As a matter of fact such diplomacy as there 
was succeeded in removing one after another of the serious 
causes of complaint, even the obnoxious Orders in Council 
having been revoked only four days after the declaration of 
war and in time to avert hostilities were there a genuine 
desire to do so. Instead, however, of sympathetic, cordial 
relations, suspicion, jealousy, and no small resentment 
possessed the dominant party, and other influences were 
silently at work also. Nor was Britain free from a spirit 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 37 

of narrowness and suspicion in its relations with the United 
Stales, emphasized, perhaps, because of tlie irritating niih- 
tary burden she was then forced to carry. An unfortunate 
characteristic of the United States Government in those far- 
off now happily forgotten days, was its unrcliabihty. It 
liad modelled fidelity to its engagements on the pattern of 
Charles the First, the martyred Stuart, of Britain, and was 
about a century behind the times in its estimate of the 
value of truth in international affairs. It joyfully, or at 
least with satisfaction, found ready means to break the 
treaty of 1783, with respect to the United Empire Loyalists, 
and it with equal readiness violated Jay's treaty of 1794. 
But deeper than either were two causes, not confessed, but 
real and potent. The first was the obhgation under which 
the United States was to France for help in the Revolu- 
tionary War. The second was the desire and expectation 
to capture Canada, from the point of view of the United 
States not an unreasonable ambition, though from the point 
of view of Canada, and the world, a wholly discreditable 
one. As to the first, the feelings excited by the Revolu- 
tionary War had not died out. There was a large and 
clamant element in the Southern States that was influenced 
first, by the fact of the French Revolution, and next by the 
subsequent success of Napoleon. The United States had 
not yet paid off her debt to France. There was deep sym- 
pathy with France, and when it at last seemed possible 
that Britain might be disastrously crippled by Napoleon's 
might, the time seemed to have come for paying off old 
scores with Britain and at the same time help an old ally. 
There can be no doubt as to Napoleon's influence in Ameri- 
can affairs. McMaster, writing with insight into the affairs 
of the country (Vol. Ill, p. 219), says: "Having thus re- 
ceived orders from Napoleon, Congress in turn made haste 
to obey." There does not seem any way open by which to 
escape the conclusion that here we have governing motive 
of the war. Granted Britain's defeat in Europe, it were a 
corollary that Canada, deprived of Britain's help, would fall 



38 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

an easy prey to her powerful neighbor. Nor were such a 
hope an empty dream. The census of 1810 gave the United 
States a population of 7 1/4 milUons, that of 1811 gave 
Canada 477,000, of whom 335,000 were French-Canadians. 
In Upper Canada the population was about 77,000, 
many of whom were recent American immigrants, dis- 
contented with British rule. The plan of conquest was 
directed chiefly against Upper Canada and the frontier 
States over against it were Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania 
and New York, backed by the heavy reserves of the Southern 
States. Not at any time, however, were the New England 
States keen for the war. The militia returns show a 
strength in Upper Canada of 8,500 men, 600 non-com. offi- 
cers and 650 officers, with British regulars under 5,000, 
scattered in small bodies from the Atlantic to Fort Detroit. 
With the settlement of Upper Canada from 1783 down, a 
new element in its scheme of defence had to be considered. 
That was the exposure to attack by the Great Lakes. Wel- 
lington wrote that the defence of the lake by an adequate 
British fleet was a necessity, but there had been neither time 
nor means available to place vessels, as were required, on 
the inland waters, and this was naturally a source of weak- 
ness throughout the war. When the sanguine General Hull, 
therefore, in his famous proclamation from Detroit, re- 
ferred to the helplessness of Upper Canada, and the reason- 
able hope of an easy conquest, he was but expressing the 
current opinion of his country, for at that time the case 
of Upper Canada, at least, did not look hopeful, always 
keeping in view the superman of Europe's phenomenal 
successes. 

If we glance briefly to the state of feehng in Canada 
we find some suggestive facts worthy of our thoughts to- 
day. Lord Dorchester, the greatest of the British pro- 
consuls in Canada in the 18th century, was a distinguished 
soldier rather than a statesman of vision. His imagination 
was limited, and he could not see even in his dreams the 
clearings in the forest, nor the happy homes on Canada's 




ARRIVAL OF THE INFANTRY ON LIINDVS LANE OPPOSITE THE 
BATTLEFIELD. 




ANOTHER SECTION OF THE MILITARY PARADE ON LUNDY'S LANE. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 39 

plains. He believed this country would always remain a 
military colony, and his efforts were divided into cultivat- 
ing the military spirit among the comparatively few British 
settlers, and placating the French, whose ancient laws and 
customs he succeeded very largely in restoring, by the 
Imperial legislation of 1774. To conciliate the French, if 
not carried too far, might be excellent policy; to restrict his 
energies to military interests in other parts of Canada was, 
of course, a proved mistake. Yet the latter view influenced 
and colored his regime, and after the close of the Revolu- 
tionary War helped to keep alive active antagonism to the 
United States. This was the real bone of contention be- 
tween himself and Governor Simcoe, whose ideas of 
Canada were fundamentally different. Simcoe, from the 
beginning, recognized the great possibilities that lay in the 
soil, waters, and minerals of Upper Canada, in short, its 
natural resources appealed to him, and his governing pur- 
pose was to transform these to the use of man; to rear a 
British State on the shores of these magnificent waters, 
that would prove a bulwark to British sway on this con- 
tinent. With this aim before him he threw open the door 
to emigration from the British Isles and even to the United 
States who a decade before were in bitter war with Britain. 
Naturally a conflict arose between the Governor-General 
j>nd the Lieutenant-Governor, and as the Royal Instructions 
of the one was unknown to the other and each believed 
himself supreme within certain limits, and independent of 
the other, authority at the very seat of government was 
subverted. 

Simcoe's plans were thwarted, his ambitions disap- 
pointed, and his differences with Dorchester really caused 
his resignation of the Lieutenant-Governorship in mid- 
career. Though the cause of his retirement was kept secret 
then and the course he pursued misguessed and misjudged. 
State documents now leave no doubt about the operating 
cause and they shed a vivid light on the inner workings 
of the times. The official correspondence, journals and 



40 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

slate papers relating to the United States and Canada during 
the period from 1783 to 1812, many of which are now 
available, are proving a mine of most interesting material 
to the investigator, and are furnishing us with means for 
forming clearer views of the great questions then stirring 
the continent. The publication of Henry's letters by the 
Archives Department draws attention by the fact that a 
persistent, positive and strong feeling existed in Massachu- 
setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York against 
war with Britain, that Massachusetts went to the extent of 
threatening withdrawal from the Union, should President 
Madison persist in his policy of war. The sincerity of 
much of this protestation need not be questioned for com- 
mercial interests lay behind it, and these States and the 
frontier generally, failed to respond to the slogan when it 
sounded to the extent they could have done, and this feeling 
must undoubtedly be thrown into the scale as we think 
of the glorious termination of the war. Both parties, 
Canada and the United States, are now arriving at a better 
understanding of the facts of those times, but as long as 
one-sided accounts still remain on the pages of accredited 
American history, it is the necessary and patriotic duty 
of Canadians to point out discrepancies, but to do so in a 
spirit of friendly brotherhood. 

In the contest we have a large against a small country, 
and notwithstanding divisions of opinion in each, the large 
country, according to the prophets, should have triumphed. 
Why, therefore, did not the United States win? 

1. Because the war was one of aggression, and in such 
a war human clement has to be reckoned with outside of 
ordinary military calculations. 

2. The character of the people must be taken into 
consideration. Though a small number, a mere handful 
of 77,000, iron was in their blood. They rid themselves of 
traitors to their country, and they were in the breach to 
die. 

3. Something must be said of the leaders. Prevost, 



^' 'M 'it'" 




COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 41 

brave and experienced as he was, proved himself unfit for 
supreme command. Rrock, was a gift of the gods to his 
country. He and Drummond are the outstanding generals 
of the war. 

We are then thrown back on the spirit of determina- 
tion exercised by a patriotic people. The satisfaction we 
feel to-day is that to us the war of 1812-1814 was a war of 
defence, not of offence or of aggression. Further, thaf we 
were a weak people, as indeed, comparatively speaking, we 
are to-day, and that in our military and national weakness, 
we were strong in our faith, strong in our loyalty, and in- 
vincible in the defence of our home and country. It needs 
no prophet's eye to see that it will always be so. Heaven 
is not always on the side of the big battalions, as the his- 
tory of war has demonstrated from the beginning of time. 
Abram's shepherds decimated Chedarlaemer's hosts. 
Gideon's was a small band, purged of the faint-hearted and 
the weak-kneed. The Ten Thousand is immortal, and 
Bannockburn is celebrated to-day. 

The glory of the 1812-14 war rests with Simcoe's 
settler fighting for his home and flag, as well as vdth the 
regular regiments. That war gave Canada a saga of glow- 
ing tradition, an epic of patriotism, an historic pageant of 
men and women whose deeds will be our national inspir- 
ation and whose names will be our everlasting glory. The 
moral of it to us is clear. It is to love our homes, to glorify 
them, to make them worthy of our finest and most rugged 
patriotism; to guard their honor and exalt their wholesome 
influence. For them the fathers fought, be it ours to 
transmit that love of them as a priceless heritage to our 
descendants. To cultivate, uphold and maintain a spirit 
of nationality, intense, and true, to the ideals of our best 
past; and to honor that past in the best way by striving to 
be worthy of it in every relation and duty of citizenship 
and life. 



42 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Historical Decoration of the British and 
American Battle Monuments. 

One of the most interesting and happy incidents of the 
day was the International ceremony hy six Canadian and 
six American young ladies who laid magniliccnt floral 
A\rcaths upon the Battle Monument and the American 
Memorial, while the band played "Abide Wilh Me." 

This feature of the commemoration was received with 
extraordinary appreciation by the vast gathering. 

Address by the Hon. Peter A. Porter, 
0/ Niagara Falls, U.S.A. 

The chairman then introduced the Hon. Peter A. Por- 
ter, whose grandfather, General Peter B. Porter, com- 
manded a Division in the American Army during the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane. Mr. Porter spoke as follows: 

Mr. Chairman, and all who have assembled to take 
part in this interesting occasion: 

This historic meeting is really the initial step in the 
approaching celebration of 100 years of peace between the 
two English-speaking nations of the earth, which were 
once enemies, but now friends. 

An international gathering, participated in by many 
of the descendants of those who fought each other in this 
field, is in itself a living proof of the amity which to-day 
exists between us. 

On your kindly invitation, we gladly join with you, 
r.nd in the earnest hope that the future shall be as free from 
war, as the past century has been. 

To us who dwell along this famous river, the only point 
on the continent where the War of 1812 was waged con- 
tinuously, and whicli bore the real brunt of that struggle, 
il is a pleasant thought that the friendly relations behveen 
those on the two sides of the boundary are closer at this 
well-known spot than at any otlier point along our "far- 
llung" border line. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 43 

In accordance with the ideas of European statesman- 
ship of a century and more ago, it was inevitable that 
there should be a second appeal to arms for the mainten- 
ance of our new nation. When Benjamin Frankhn, as one 
of the plenipotentiaries on the part of the United States, 
signed the Treaty of Paris, he wisely remarked: "This 
closes the War of the Revolution; but the real war of inde- 
pendence is yet to be fought." 

That came in the War of '12, which forever established 
the position of "The States" amongst the peoples and the 
powers of the earth. That contest made Canada a more 
integral part of the British Empire, it welded your loyalty 
into a concrete force, and it laid the foundations for your 
present great Dominion. And its close resulted in peace, 
even until to-day. 

During that war more battles — of varying magnitude 
— were fought along this river, than in any other equal 
area in North America, yet Lundy's Lane was the only 
clash which occurred right at the Cataract. 

The Cataract, which is Nature's supreme scenic gift 
to man, is also her noblest scenic symbol of peace upon 
earth. For, from the days when darkness brooded over the 
deeps, and that first great flood before the deluge, light 
came rushing on creation, from that time to this, day in 
and day out, week in and week out, month in and month 
out, year in and year out, decade in and decade out, cen- 
tury in and century out, its voice has everlastingly been 
hymning the praises of the prince of peace, and to-day is 
ceaselessly sending forth its word of peaceful greeting unto 
all of the chilch'en of men. 

Without sounds of its voice, within sight of its beauty, 
was fought this famous Battle of Lundy's Lane or Niagara. 

Mightier armies have met in conflict, on fields of great 
renown, but a fiercer struggle in proportion to the numbers 
engaged, a severer trial of discipline, a greater test of patri- 
otic bravery — a battle more closely associated with the 
beautiful in nature — the world has never known. 



44 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

It was a series of terrific charges for the possession 
of this hill, and for the cannon hereon; literally hand-to- 
hand conflicts, fought after dark under the pale rays of a 
waning moon, the over-hanging clouds of smoke spreading 
like a pall over the combatants, while the roar of Niagara 
became a moan of pity for the wounded, and an everlasting 
requiem for the dead. 

The antiquated forts, the ruins of others, the sites of 
many batteries, and the well-known battle-fields along this 
river, are in themselves eloquent memorials of a warless 
century, and perpetual appeals for continued peace. 

Adapting Webster's words; I shall enter upon no en- 
conium on this International Niagara frontier. She needs 
none. Here she stands. Behold her and judge for your- 
selves. There is her history. The world knows it by heart. 
The past at least is secure. There are Fort George and the 
adjoining village, burnt while the region lay covered with 
snow and Fort Niagara and the entire American shore of 
our river, Lewiston, Manchester, Schlosser, Black Rock and 
Buffalo, devastated in mid-winter by fire and the sword. 
And there are the battle-fields of Queenston Heights and 
Newark and Black Rock and Buffalo and Fort Erie and 
Chippawa, and this Lundy's Lane and there they shall 
remain forever. 

Perhaps in the invisible air about, unknown and un- 
seen, the spirits of all those regulars, militia and Indians 
on both sides, who took part in this hard-fought battle, just 
hundred years ago to-night, are now hovering around us, 
in approval of our amity, among the angels, who forever 
keep watch and ward over every human being, as we lift 
up our voices in praise of their heroism. 

As Lincoln said at Gettysburg: "The world will little 
note what we say here, but it will never forget what they 
did here." 

Both of us have forgotten the animosities of the long- 
ago. Both of us pay tribute to the memories of the brave 
men who fought here. And both of us look forward with 




THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. 




SIR JOHN (JIBSON DELIVERING HIS ADDRESS. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 45 

earnest hope, to a continuance of that greatest of all 
blessings. 

Peace on earth, good will 'mongst men, 

From Heaven's Eternal King; 
And for the past with its peaceful days. 
We gratefully join in the hymns of praise 
Which the blessed Angels sing. 

Special Decoration of the Oldest Grave 
and Battle Monument 

A special decoration then took place of the oldest 
grave in the cemetery (1797) by Col. G. Sterling Ryerson, 
President of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of 
Canada, and Miss Helen M. Merrill, Hon. Secretary, of 
Toronto, who laid a very beautiful wTcath of flowers on 
the historic grave. 

This ceremony was followed by the laying of a laurel 
wreath upon the Lundy's Lane Battle Monument, bearing 
the inscription, "Honor the brave dead of Lundy's Lane," 
by Mrs. J. Russell Simpson, Hon. Recording Secretary and 
Special Delegate from the Women's Canadian Historical 
Society of Ottawa; a compliment much appreciated by 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, and Citizens of Niagara 
Falls City. 

Address of Dr. James H. Coyne, F.R.S.C. 

Doctor Coyne spoke as follows: — 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society has to its credit 
more than a quarter of a century of efficient work. Its 
publications are known to all students of the War of 1812. 
The "Documentary History," and monographs, bearing 
the Society's imprint, on battles and other incidents of the 
War, are indispensable to the historian. They are also 
enduring monuments to the erudition, research, and sound- 
ness of judgment of your distinguished member. Colonel 
Cruickshank, whose presence we miss to-day. Pubhc 
duties have removed him to a distant sphere of labor, and 



46 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

your and our loss is Calgary's gain. Our revered friend, 
the late Canon Bull, would have rejoiced to see this day. 
As organizer and president of the Society he labored hard. 
Happily, he lived to see the larger part of its valuable 
series of publications. His work should not be forgotten 
in this celebration, which may perhaps be regarded as 
the crowning effort of the Society he formed. 

Our meeting to-day is on a memorablt; spot and on a 
memorable occasion. We are assembled in Drummond 
Hill Cemetery. Here all round us surged the tide of battle 
a hundred years ago to-day. Here after nightfall thousands 
of brave men fought for hours through the darkness, often, 
it is said, firing at the flashes of their opponents' guns. 
Where the conflict was fiercest, on the very ground on 
which we stand, the hostile lines faced each other, at times, 
only ten or twelve yards apart. Backward and forward 
swayed the forces around and over this ridge. They fought 
with desperate valor. Hundreds bit the dust. Hundreds 
were borne wounded from the field, many to die on the 
road or in hospital, others to sur\dve rough amputations 
and live maimed and crippled the rest of their days. 
Readers of Dr. Dunlop's Reminiscences can form some idea 
of the horrors of the military hospital of these days. Dun- 
lop was the only surgeon for two hundred and twenty 
wounded men, brought to Niagara from Lundy's Lane. 
The medical staff was quartered at Quebec, five hundred 
miles away. It was, as Dunlop said, "one of the many 
blunders of this blundering war." 

But the Battle of Lundy's Lane was a brave and a glori- 
ous fight. It was waged with equal courage and deter- 
mination in every branch of the service on both sides. 
Militia men and regulars fought side by side with equal 
distinction. Many of the regulars were mere striplings, 
whose first fight was their last. Canadians from every 
settlement in the Province were present and had their full 
share of the casualties. 

But in this commemoration we owe a duty to others 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 47 

than those of our own blood and kin. Among the regulars 
were men of many lands. Natives of continental Europe, 
who had served under Napoleon, and olhers who had 
fought him, battled for Canada on that eventful night. 
They had taken service under our flag. Otherwise they 
owed no duty to our land or the Empire. But here they 
fought and fell with our own. Here the trenches received 
the bodies of all in one common grave. Surely the men of 
foreign blood and speech, whose dust is beneath this sod, 
deserve their meed of gratitude from those who now 
possess the land they died to save. 

Nor need we grudge the honors of this memorial day 
to the dead who rest here, and who fell in the ranks of the 
invading army. They, too, died for their country, fighting 
its battles, and they share with our own soldiers the 
tribute Britons are always ready to pay to bravery, sacri- 
fice, and patriotic devotion. 

Lundy's Lane was not only the fiercest fight of the 
war; it was the decisive battle of the final campaign. It 
was thus a turning point in history. The destiny, not only 
of Upper Canada, but of the British Empire, may aln)osl 
be said to have depended upon the result. 

In one sense it was the longest battle ever fought. The 
hostile armies struggled for many long hours, and thought 
the fight was over, when the attacking forces retired, and 
Hercules Scott's wearied reinforcements rested on the field 
under the old flag after their twenty-mile march and their 
strenuous struggle with the foe. 

Not so; the fight was only transferred. The historians 
took it up, and their warfare continues to this day. Who 
were the victors at Lundy's Lane? Did the United States 
troops win the battle by driving the defenders over the 
bill and capturing some guns, although they retired, leav- 
ing guns and their dead on the field? Did the British win 
it by retaking and retaining possession of the field, guns 
and all? The battle of the historians is happily a bloodless 
one, and it may continue its harmless course for another 



48 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

liundred years. Meanwhile, the facts are collected hy 
Colonel Cruickshank, and we may safely abide by his judg- 
ment? What is his verdict? Read his monograph for 
yourselves, and be satisfied. One thing is certain: Canada 
^^'as saved, and we know that here, as in so many other 
parts of the globe: 

On the bones of the English 
The English flag is stayed. 

And here it will be maintained as long as we are worthy 
of the great stock from which we are sprung. 

We are justly proud of Canada and of the Empire. 
None the less cordially on that account do we Canadians 
welcome our brothers from across the river, who join us 
in the common tribute to the brave who fell at Lundy's 
Lane. Among them may I be permitted to mention Hon. 
Peter A. Porter, whose grandfather, General Peter B. Por- 
ter, took part in the battle? Mr. Porter's presence iitly 
symbolizes the changed relations between the two countries, 
and emphasizes the fact of the Hundred Years of Peace. 

Standing on the field, where the decisive struggle took 
place, we may well draw some lessons of the war. 

It was a futile war as far as its ostensible objects were 
concerned. 

It left the conflicting nations as they were. Not one 
of the causes proclaimed by Congress was even mentioned 
in the treaty of peace. Its indirect effects, however, were 
of immense importance. 

It drew a line of cleavage between the New England 
and Southern States, that widened and deepened into the 
great rebellion of 1861-1865, which, while it entailed unpre- 
cedented losses in blood and money, may be said to have 
made the United States a United Slate. 

The bitter feeling created by the war resulted in a 
Canadian embargo on immigration from the States, and 
the encouragement of settlers from the British Isles. 
Canada became more intensely British in sentiment, Ameri- 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 49 

can sympathizers having been largely eliminated in the 
course of the war. Nowhere in the Empire is the imperial 
sentiment stronger, as witness the Canadian contingents in 
the Boer War. 

Canada was a country of small scattered and discon- 
nected settlements. The War of 1812 made it a nation with 
national sentiments and ideals, readily assimilating ele- 
ments from other lands. Immigrants from the States are 
among our greatest loyalists. The Rebelhon of 1837, the 
Fenian Raid and the Boer War afforded the tests, and 
Canada rang true metal. 

The war disillusionized the Americans as to the 
strength of Canadian loyalty. Many of them had led them- 
selves to believe that their projected invasion would be 
merely a friendly procession through the land, the Cana- 
dians receiving them as deliverers from oppression. They 
soon learned their mistake. A free people of British blood 
refused to be beguiled, and could not be conquered, how- 
ever disproportioned the numbers of the opposing forces. 

The war gave a powerful impulse to the sentiment of 
a United Empire, a sentiment, which is one of the most 
effectual guarantees of liberty and democracy throughout 
the world to-day. 

The w^ar emphasized for both parties the lesson, that, 
on land, militia cannot ordinarily stand up against regu- 
lars, and that in warfare other things being equal, the 
possession of sea-power dominates the situation. Lundy's 
Lane might have resulted differently, if Commodore Chaun- 
cey had not been bottled up in Sackett's Harbor by the 
British lake fleet. 

A hundred years of peace have passed. Many times 
w^e have been near the danger line. Questions of boundary, 
both east and west, cod and seal fisheries, the Rebellion of 
1837, the Venezuela question, have brought us to the verge 
of war, but common sense has triumphed, and war between 
the two countries is as unthinkable as a relapse to primitive 
barbarism. 



50 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

The Treaty of Ghent inaugurated the era of arbitration 
as a substitute for war, and of common-sense and good 
feeUng as a substitute for frontier walls and forts. For 
four thousand miles of international boundary between 
Canada and the United States there is no garrison on either 
side. For more than a thousand miles of water frontier 
there is not a single warship. Our armies of invasion cross 
the frontier only on invitation, to take part in friendly cele- 
brations such as this, or to attend conventions for the pro- 
motion of religion, science, art, history, literature, social 
advancement and brotherly feeling. For such there is no 
international frontier. In aU that is for the good of 
humanity we are one in spirit, though under separate flags. 

We are one in many problems we are called upon to 
face. What are we to do with our foreigners? Shall we 
exclude them altogether, or shall we control immigration 
by more stringent regulations and conditions? Shall w^e 
assimilate it, or to what extent shall we admit the new- 
comers to the rights and privileges of citizenship? How 
shall we educate them to the duties and responsibilities 
of citizenship? Shall we encourage men of all races and 
colors to come and occupy, or shall we imitate the chosen 
people of old, and keep and develop our country as an 
inheritance for our children and our children's children. 

How shall we conserve the vast public resources of 
North America? Can we check and control the growing 
money-power? On both sides of the line the rights of the 
people are still intact in theory. How shall they be effecr 
tually protected against the forces encroaching on every 
side? How shall the public welfare be advanced along 
lines of education and material development? How shall 
the community become happier, more prosperous, more 
contented? 

These are common problems, calling for common 
effort, and mutual counsel and co-operation. The energies 
of the nations may well be devoted to bringing about vie- 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 51 

tories of peace, in developing not only the material but the 
moral and spiritual resources entrusted to them. 

The solution of these problems should call forth rival- 
ries infinitely more beneficial than the rivalries of war. 
May the Hundred Years of Peace become a thousand. 
Meanwhile, let me present, in the words of the great im- 
perial poet, a worthy programme for the next century of 
peace: 

"Keep ye the law: be swift in all obedience. 
Clear the land of evil; drive the road and bridge the ford. 

Make ye sure to each his own. 

That he reap where he has sown, 
By the peace among our peoples let man know we serve 
the Lord." 

Recitation by Lieut-Col. F. W. MacQueen 

0/ Toronto. 
Lt.-Col. F. W. MacQueen was then introduced and 
recited in a dramatic and effective manner the foUowing 
patriotic poem: — 

The Battle of Lundy's Lane. 
By Duncan Campbell Scott. 
Rufus Gale speaks — 1852. 
Yes, — in the Lincoln Militia, — in the war of eighteen- 

twelve; 
Many's the day I've had since then to dig and delve — 
But those are the years I remember as the brightest years 

of all. 
When we left the plow in the furrow to follow the bugle's 

call. 
Why, even our son Abner wanted to fight with the men! 
"Don't you go, d'ye hear, sir !" I was angry with him then. 
"Stay with your mother!" I said, and he looked so old and 
grim — 



62 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

He was just sixteen that April — I couldn't believe it was 

him ; 
But I didn't think — 1 was off — and we met the foe again, 
Five thousand strong and ready, at the hill by Lundy's Lane. 
There as the night came on we fought them from six to 

nine, 
Whenever they broke our line we broke their line. 
They took our guns and we w^on them again, and around 

the levels 
Where the hill sloped up — with the Eighty-ninth — we 

fought like devils 
.Around the flag; — and on they came and we drove them 

back, 
Until with its very fierceness the fight grew slack. 

H was then about nine and dark as a miser's pocket. 

When up came Hercules' Scott's brigade swift as a rocket. 

And charge — and the flashes sprang in the dark batta- 
lion's eyes. 

The night was full of fire-groans, cheers and cries; 

Then through the sound and the fury another sound broke 
in — 

The roar of a great old duck-gun shattered the rest of the 
din; 

It took two minutes to charge it and another to set it free. 

Every time I heard it an angel spoke to me; 

Yes, the minute I heard it I felt the strangest tide 

Flow in my veins like lightning, as if, there, by my side. 

Was the very spirit of Valor. But 'twas dark— you couldn't 
see — 

And the one who was firing the duck-gun fell against me 

And slid down to the clover, and lay there still; 

Something went through me — piercing — with a strange, 
swift thriU 

The noise fell away into silence, and I heard as clear as 
thunder 

The long, slow roar of Niagara; O the wonder 




THE MILITARY PARADE ARRIVING AT THE BATTLEFIELD. 




THE HIGHLANDERS. FROM TORONTO AND HAMILTON. COMING UP 
T.ITNDY'S LANE. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 53 

Of that deep sound. But again the battle broke 

And the foe, driven before us desperately — stroke upon 

stroke, 
Left the field to his master, and sullenly down the road 
Sound the boom of his guns, trailing the heavy load 
Of his wounded men and his shattered flags, sullen and low, 
Setting fire in his rage to Bridgewater mills, and the glow 
Flared in the distant forest. We rested as we could, 
And for a while I slept in the dark of a maple wood: 
But when the clouds in the east were red all over, 
I came back there to the place we made the stand in the 

clover; 
For my heart was heavy then with a strange deep pain, 
As I thought of the glorious fight, and again and again 
I remembered the valiant spirit and the piercing thrill; 
But I knew it all when I reached the top of the hill, — 
For there, there with the blood on his dear, brave head, 
There on the hill in the clover lay our Abner — dead! — 

No — thank you — no, I don't need it; I'm solid as granite 

rock. 
But every time that I tell it I feel the old, cold shock. 
I'm eighty-one my next birthday — do you breed such fel- 
lows now? 
There he lay with the dawn cooling his broad fair brow, 
That was no dawn for him; and there was the old duck- 
gun 
That many and many's the time, — just for the fun 
We together, alone, would take to the hickory rise, 
And bring home more wild pigeons than ever you saw with 

your eyes. 
Up with Hercules Scott's brigade, just as it came on night — 
He was the angel beside me in the thickest of the fight — 
Wrote a note to his mother — He said, "I've got to go. 
Mother; what would home be under the heel of the foe!" 
Oh ! she never slept a wink, she would rise and walk the 
floor; 



54 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

She'd say this over and over, "I knew it all before!" 
I'd try to speak of the glory to give her a little joy. 
"What is glory to 'em when I want my boy, my boy!" 
She'd say, and she'd wring her hands; her hair grew white 

as snow — 
And I'd argue with her up and down, to and fro. 
Of how she had mothered a hero, and his was a glorious 

fate, 
Better than years of grubbing to gather an estate. 
Sometimes I'd put it this way: "If God was to say to me 

now 
'Take him back as he once was helping you with the plow,' " 
I'd say, 'No, God, thank You kindly; 'twas You that he 

obeyed; 
You told him to fight and he fought, and he wasn't afraid; 
You wanted to prove him in battle, You sent him to 

Lundy's Lane, 
'Tis well!" But she only would answer over and over again, 
"Give me back my Abner — give me back my son!" 
It was so all through the winter until the spring had begun. 
And the crocus was up in the door-yard, and the drift by 

the fence was thinned. 
And the sap drip-dropi^ing from the branches wounded by 

the wind, 
And the whole earth smelled like a flower, — then she came 

to me one night — 
"Rufus," she said, with a sob in her throat, — "Rufus, j^oii're 

right." 
I hadn't cried till then, not a tear — but then I was torn in 

two — 
Tliere, it's all right — my eyes don't see as they used to do! 
But, O the joy of that battle — it was worth the whole of life. 
You felt immortal in action with the rapture of the strife. 
There in the dark by the river, with the flashes of tire 

before, 
Running and crashing along, there in the dark, and the 

roar 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 55 

Of the guns, and the shrilling cheers, and the knowledge 

that filled your heart, 
That there was a victory making and you must do your 

part. 
But — there's his grave in the orchard where the headstone 

glimmers white; 
We could see it, we thought, from our windows even on 

the darkest night; 
It is set there for a sign that what one lad could do 
Would be done by a hundred hundred lads whose hearts 

were stout and true. 
And when in the time of trial you hear the recreant say, 
Shooting his coward lips at us, "You shall have had your 

day; 
For all your state and glory shall pass like a cloudy wrack. 
And here some other flag shall fly where flew the Union 

Jack,"— 
Why tell him a hundred thousand men would spring from 

these sleepy farms. 
To tie that flag in its ancient place with the sinews of their 

arms ; 
And if they doubt you and put you to scorn, why you can 

make it plain, 
With the tale of the gaUant Lincoln men and the fight at 

Lundy's Lane. 

Address of Mr. George D. Emerson. 

The Chairman introduced Mr. George D. Emerson, 
Historian and Essayist, of Buffalo, N.Y., who delivered the 
following important historical address: — 

As this is the third occasion upon which I have had 
the honor of speaking in these historic grounds, I hardly 
think I would be justified in making a very lengthy address 
today. I am sure I appreciate the honor as well as the 
privilege of having a part in these commemorative exer- 
cises — exercises which not only call to mind one of the 
most prominent events in our Niagara Frontier history 



56 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

but by a felicitous combination of circumstances held on 
the very spot of its happening. 

I come to you from the land east of yonder majestic 
river, whose ceaseless flow is measured only by the lapse 
of ages, theoretically and poUtically a foreign country, but 
how Uttle of reahty and how much of fiction there is after 
all in speaking of that same river as a boundary hne. 
Boundary hne — of what? We meet and mingle with each 
other constantly — there is an interchange of commerce 
and business which it is to be hoped is mutually benelicial 
— the coins of both nations pass current on either side — we 
array ourselves in the same styles of garments — we are 
essentially of the same origin, speak the same language, 
read out of the same Bible and pray to the one ever-living 
snd true God. 

Somewhere I suppose out in yonder stream, there is 
an imaginary Une at which the jurisdiction of one country 
ends and the jurisdiction of another commences, but even 
in that there is much enjoyed in common owing to govern- 
mental necessities and international agreements. It has 
been said that "That country is best governed which is 
least governed." If that be true, then the people of Canada 
and the people of the United States live under two of the 
best governments the hght of God's sun ever shone down 
upon. And to-day, amid these delightful surroundings, and 
on these historic grounds, where the men of the two coun- 
tries grappled in a desperate encounter, one hundred years 
ago to-night, I bring the greetings of a true son of the Great 
Republic, to the representatives of our old mother country 
whose flag for a thousand years has waved in the van of 
the world's onward and upward march. I am a lover of 
my country. I am profoundly impressed by her mission 
to liclp work out the world's attainment of the ideal in 
human life and activities. I gloiy in her flag and all that 
it stands for. But I want to say to you at the same time 
that the man who docs not love his own country over and 
above every other country on the face of the globe — who is 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 57 

not willing to salute her flag when it is borne in public 
along the streets, is a pervert and a malfon nation, unwor- 
thy of the respect of honorable men and women. 

A multitude of other thoughts come to my mind as 1 
stand here to-day and look out upon this wonderfully inter- 
esting and peaceful scene. All is peace. The husbancUnan 
and the laborer each goes forth to his daily tasks and re- 
turns at eventide with no thought that wars rude alarums 
or horrors will ever again intervene. The hum of the 
factory and of the thousand and one appliances of trade 
are heard on every hand. The kindly products of nature 
are blossoming into full fruition for man's comfort and 
happiness. The men who lost their lives in the great battle 
July 25, 1814, and who are here buried, are sleeping peace- 
fully their last long sleep, and although the tramping of 
ever new generations shall be heard above their resting 
places it shall disturb them no more forever. Then, as now, 
was this sacred spot set apart for the interment of the 
loved and lost. Delightful however as is this picture, not 
only to the eye but to the mind's eye as well, it is impossible 
on this occasion to divest ourselves wholly of the direful 
scenes enacted one hundred years ago in and around the 
8pot upon which we are gathered. The same heavens are 
indeed over our head — the same great river rushes down 
through yonder gorge and the mighty cataract claims the 
attention of the world as it has since the eye of man first 
rested upon it — the general contour of the hills and vales 
has been altered but little, the same stars shine in all their 
briUiancy in the firmament on high, but all else how 
changed. 

Then war — bloodshed — wounds — death — widows 
— orphans — tears — mourning — sorrow — and all the calam- 
ities which follow in the train of a contest at arms. 

Now peace — happy families — home life — industrj- — 
prosperity — education — trade — commerce — and all the 
blessings arising from the employment of a community in 
the ordinary avocations of a peaceful life. 



58 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

In the battle of one hundred years ago two forces con- 
tended — one which came into this country as invaders, 
armed and equipped with the implements of warfare and 
coming hither under legal orders from a legitimate gov- 
ernment, with the avowed purpose of bringing war with 
its horrors and evils into this land. The other, made up 
of citizens of the country in which we are assembled to- 
day, also armed and equipped with the implements of war, 
together with other men of the King's Army, who sought 
by all means in their power to resist the invasion of their 
soil. 

One of Shakespeare's characters speaks about calhng 
up spirits from the vasty deep. Could we to-day be vested 
with some such power and summon back from the spirit 
kmd the actors in the great drama and place them again 
as they moved back and forth one hundred years ago to- 
night in carrying out their respective parts, what a mighty 
spectacle would be unfolded to our vision. A way down 
yonder road, older than the battle itself, we would see 
Gen. Winfield Scott of the American Army, with his fiery, 
impetuous nature, hurrying his troops forward — they pass 
Mrs. Wilson's — pass Forsyth's — three of his regiments, the 
9th, 11th and 22nd United States Infantry, and two pieces 
of artillery turn to the left and through a wheatfield way 
to the right, hard by Haggy Skinner's emerge into full view 
of the long British line here on the hill. Out by yonder 
trees, perhaps a little to the right, is stationed a battery 
ready to belch forth death and destruction, and the bloody 
conflict is opened. Captain Towson with his two guns 
down at the foot of the hill endeavors with undaunted 
courage to answer shot by shot, but soon finds that firing 
up hill is a hopeless and fruitless task, and the attempt is 
aljandoned. 

If we look to the cast of the Queenston road we see 
the fourth regiment of Scott's — the 25th United States In- 
fantry — hurrying through the woods in an altempt to strike 
the British left, made up of the incorporated militia and a 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 59 

detachment of the King's regiment, stationed along what 
you now call Ferry street, then only a pathway through the 
woods, just east of the Memorial Fountain. This movement 
is entirely successful and overhorne hy the fury of the 
onslaught and not by force of numbers, the British left is 
pushed back across the Queenston road, swinging like the 
hinge of a barndoor. A little later Brigadier-General Riall 
of the British forces comes cantering down from Queenston 
with his staff, and unaware of the shifts on the left, rides 
directly into the American ranks, and with his officers is 
made a prisoner. General Riall, an Irish gentleman with a 
Yankee name, cannot even under such fateful circum- 
stances resist the national impulse of cracking a joke, and 
does so with the captain of the company which captured 
him, whose name, curiously enough, happened to be 
Ketchum. Two companies of the 19th Dragoons are sta- 
tioned on the Queenston road north of where the Memorial 
Fountain now stands, while back of us in a very irregular 
line are the 41st and 89th British regiments and a detach- 
ment of the Royal Scotts, either at the opening of the con- 
flict or coming into line later. To our right farther up the 
road in various positions, is the King's regiment, the Glen- 
garry Regiment, and the 103rd Regiment, while obliquely 
with this line stretching out into the open fields, is the em- 
bodied miUtia, the Grenadiers of the 103rd Regiment, and 
the flank companies of the 104th Regiment, maintaining a 
continuous fire upon Scott's depleting ranks who, however, 
hold their ground with remarkable tenacity. 

Meanwhile the sun is rapidly sinking below the horizon, 
and as the shades of night gather around the embattled 
hosts slow, methodical, plodchng Ripley comes up from 
Chippawa along the old Queenston road, with a skeleton 
brigade, made up of the 1st, 19th, 21st and 23rd Regiments, 
United States Infantry, followed a httle later by that splen- 
did specimen of a Niagara Frontier gentleman, whom Can- 
adians as well as Americans delight to honor, Peter B. 
Porter, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, with a regiment 



60 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

of Pennsylvania volunteers and one of New York Militia. 
Ripley forms east of the Queenston road, but finds his 
position of little advantage, moves forward and to the left, 
while Porter forms still farther to the left, thus relieving 
as by a protecting arm, Scott's hard-pushed battalions, who 
later are moved to their proper alignment at the right of 
the line. But now through the murky battle smoke and 
the gloom of the night we see another movement. Sturdy 
James Miller, with the 21st United States Infantry, is quietly, 
cautiously, moving along the road over yonder. "Steady, 
boys, quiet now, no noise," is his admonition. Quietly they 
creep along, then up the hill, a rail fence just over there 
affords a hiding place for themselves and a rest for their 
guns which are aimed at the men at the battery out here 
on the hillside, one volley is fired, the fence is thrown down 
and away with a rush starts the 21st, every man at the 
cannon wearing a British uniform goes down to death and 
one of the great prizes of the battle is in the hands of the 
Americans. 

And now comes that terrible two hours or more of 
fighting, the exact details of which no human being knows, 
and I doubt if any human being ever did know beyond what 
each officer and soldier sees in his immediate front. With 
splendid courage and persistence the British rally and form 
time and again and heroically endeavor to repossess the 
lost cannon. Charge is made and met by counter-charge in 
one of the last of which Captain Hull of Scott's 9th United 
States Infantry, who sleeps with some of his fallen com- 
rades over by yonder massive monument, loses his life. 
There is now no cessation in the roar of the artillery, and 
musketry and men by the score go down dead or grievously 
wounded. There is a constant shifting of the lines — back- 
ward — forward — occasionally an intermixing in which men 
almost fire into each other's faces — Riall has been cap- 
tured — Drummond is wounded — Scott is badly wounded — 
while over near where the, Memorial Fountain stands, 
Brown is wounded — the darkness of night and the gloom 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 61 

of the battle smoke is relieved only by lanterns and the 
flash of cannon and musket — until at midnight's holy hour, 
fatigued, battle swept, exhausted, suffering the horrible 
tortures of thirst, by almost mutual consent the combat 
ceases. Early in the morning the British lines are again 
formed, but discovery is made that the American troops 
have left for Chippawa during the night, abandoning all 
for which they had so strenuously contended. Possession 
is taken of the field and the great battle of Lundy's Lane 
becomes history. 

In commemorating this great drama of July 25th, 1814, 
we are not introducing any strange novelty, for we are but 
following in the footsteps of all nations that have had a 
place in the annals of history since the institution of ci\dl 
governments. From time immemorial they who have gone 
forth to fight the battles of their country have been accorded 
special honors and rewards. To those who have gone to 
death in the fierce throes of the conflict, oratory has pro- 
nounced its most eloquent sentences — music has warbled 
its sweetest strains — and poetry its most charming lines. 
As our great war president, Mr. Lincoln, said at the dedi- 
cation of a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield as a 
national cemetery, "The world will little note nor long 
remember what we say here, but it can never forget what 
they did here." 

Which side was right and which was wrong, it seems 
to me, need have no part in our thoughts to-day. All who 
here contended, one hundred years ago, have long since 
passed to the judgment seat of God, and there, as with all 
earthly issues, must the final arbitrament lie. It is suf- 
ficient for us of this generation to know that there w^as 
nothing on either side to cause us to feel the blush of shame. 
It was a contest where British courage w^as matched 
against Yankee pluck, and if there was a coward or a 
shirk in either army, history has left no record of it. 

But, my friends, such occasions as these bring with 
them not only thoughts of the past and the present, but 



62 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

they also prompt us to endeavor to peer into the future 
\vhose kaleidoscopic changes are rapidly unfolding before 
our eyes. 

"Watchman tell us of the night — 
What its signs of promise are." 

A few months ago Canada's great orator, Dr. James 
A. MacDonald of Toronto, delivered an address at a mem- 
orable gathering, which was a masterpiece of descriptive 
oratory. In discussing at some length the causes which 
led up to the War of 1812, he laid down the principle that 
any nation which had a right to an existence at all, had a 
right to a separate and independent nationality and to its 
own sovereign or ruler who should not be merely the satrap 
or underling of some world-wide conqueror. This he desig- 
nated as the doctrine of nationhood and that it was in 
defence of and for the maintenance of this doctrine that 
Great Britain waged her relentless and persistent wars 
against Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Now if that doctrine was correct and true at that time, 
it is correct and true at the present time. This disposes of 
forever the idea of further national consolidations, and 
least of all of a union of the United States and Canada, 
which will not come in my day or yours. It is not national 
union that the world wants but international co-operation 
— not one government but friendly relations between sep- 
arate and independent nationalities — each In its own way 
working out its own destiny and all contributing to the 
glory of God and the upbuilding of humanity. I cannot 
but help think that every man, woman and child present 
to-day will go from here more loyal each to his own coun- 
try and to his own flag and be the better thereby able to do 
his part in the evolution of the race and the hastening of 
that day when the world shall of a truth know that "Right- 
eousness exaltcth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any 
people." 

After the close of the great civil war in my own land, 
j> beautiful poem was written, entitled, "The Blue and the 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 63 

Gray," expressive of the disappearance of the sectional 
animosities and hatreds which had been engendered by 
the great struggle. Two verses seem most appropriate to- 
day, akin to the contest whose centennial we are observing: 

"So with an equal splendor 

The morning sun rays fall — 
With a touch impartially tender 

On the blossoms blooming for all; 
Under the sod and the dew — 

Waiting the judgment day — 
Broidered with gold the blue — 

Mellowed with gold the gray. 

No more shall the war cry sever 

Or the winding river be red — 
They banished our anger forever 

When they honored the graves of our dead; 
Under the sod and the dew — 

Waiting the judgment day — 
Love and tears for the blue — 

Tears and love for the gray." 

The choir sang " O, Canada." 

Following the address of Mr. Emerson, the school- 
girls, under Prof. Kaye, sang "O, Canada," and the mili- 
tary bands played musical selections. 

The Address of Mr. Clarence M. Warner. 

The Chairman then introduced Mr. Clarence M. War- 
ner, President of the Ontario Historical Society, whose 
energies in historical work are well-known and much 
appreciated by Canadian historians. 

Mr. Warner spoke as follows: — 

As President of the Ontario Historical Society let me 



64 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

pssure you that we of the parent organization are proud 
ol" the Officers and Members of the Lundy's Lane Histori- 
cal Society — one of our affiliated societies — for the excel- 
lent manner in which they have planned and are carrying 
out this historical celebration. They are making history 
most attractive. By this means they are probably develop- 
ing the historical germ in many heads, and the results of 
this day's work should be of great value in furthering the 
study of Canadian history. 

The story is told of a celebrated Italian criminal, who 
lived centuries ago, and who was finally convicted of a 
very serious crime. The justice, in sentencing him, gave 
him an option of penalties — he was to read one of the then 
well-known histories of Italy or go to the galleys. He chose 
the galleys. It would be difficult for any of those present 
to-day, enjoying the hospitality which we are, to understand 
how a human being could make such a choice. 

However, there are, scattered over our Province, thou- 
sands of people who have absolutely no interest in the his- 
tory of their native land and who have never looked at a 
Canadian history, except possibly as required in an early 
school course. Those people would listen if you told them 
that the Battle of Lundy's Lane was the last important 
victory gained by the British in the War of 1812, but merely 
do so to be polite. 

One of the most important functions of the Ontario 
Historical Society is to place the history of this fair 
Dominion before the people in such an attractive manner 
that they will want to make it a regular study. It is through 
the medium of the Affiliated Societies that this can best be 
accomplished. The local societies — of which there are 
thirty-one scattered over the Province — have an oppor- 
tunity of appeal to the personal clement in history. They 
can make each individual of the community in which they 
are located feel that he or she is not only connected with 
the history of the district through ancestors who have been 
instrumental in settling their particular part of the country, 




SIR JOHN GIBSON AND HIS SECRETARY. MAJOR CALDWELL, 
REVIEWING THE TROOPS. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 65 

but they can be made to feel that they are making the his- 
tory of the present day. And when you appeal to the per- 
sonal side of the average human being and show him that 
the old plough which his father used but which was long 
ago discarded, is the only one of the kind known to exist 
in the district and that it, with a card attached bearing his 
name as donor, would make a valuable addition to the col- 
lection of historical objects in the local museum; or show 
his wife that the old dress with the bustle on it which she 
wore as a bride not many years ago, is as important to 
illustrate the true history as a military commission issued 
by Sir Isaac Brock to some person's great grandfather, you 
have those people won for life. They will read in the 
county papers of those additions to the local collection with 
great pride and will always attend the historical meetings 
because they are a part of the history. They will talk about 
it with the neighbors and will be agents for the collection 
of material for your museum for ever after. 

That, I believe, is one of the greatest methods of teach- 
ing our history and future generations will thank us for 
the foresight which prompted us to preserve our present- 
day history in such an attractive manner. 

There are many other sides of this question which 
might be referred to, but a number of speakers are to fol- 
low and 1 must not take up too much of your time. It is 
good to be here to-day. We owe a lot to our Government, 
which, I understand, has made this celebration possible. 
We should be thankful to our American guests because 
they have come to us in a spirit of peaceful fellowship 
w^hich is bound to make these two great countries friends 
for all time. Let me assure our neighbors that there is a 
genuine, deep-rooted, good feeling for them and their 
country in the hearts of all intelligent Canadians. Both 
countries have a few who like to make believe that they 
are enemies, but they make a poor showing when the real 
pulse of the two countries is tested. No better example of 
this great friendship could possibly have been given than 



66 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

the wonderful display of affection shown in the reception 
accorded to the Hon. Wm. H. Taft by an audience com- 
posed of the learned men of Toronto which packed Con- 
vocation Hall at the University on January 27th last. His 
acceptance of the University's invitation to deliver the first 
of the Marfleet lectures was a happy ending of the visit. 
We are loyal Canadians, and as such we are proud of the 
record made by our pioneers during the War of 1812, and 
we know that after a century of peace the power of the 
United States, though silent and reserved, will always be 
a menace to our enemies. 

Finally, w^e ow^e special thanks to Mr. Geary, the Presi- 
dent of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, and his helpers 
for the tremendous amount of work they have done to 
honor the memory of the American and British soldiers 
who lost their hves on this battlefield, to give the school 
children an impression of the true spirit of friendship for 
their American cousins, combined with a feeling of pride 
that they have been born in fair Canada, and to give us all 
a good time. 

Presentation of Medals to Distinguished 
Guests. 

The presentation of Commemorative Silver Medals to 
distinguished guests was made by Mr. R. W. Geary, Presi- 
dent of Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

Miss Janet Carnochan's Sonnet. 

Miss Janet Carnochan, President of Niagara Historical 
Society, read the following sonnet, written by her for this 
occasion : 

Battle of Lundy's Lane— 25th July, 1814 
Upon tills liill we come to celebrate 
That fateful day a century ago. 
How saved our heritage with forceful blow 
We meet to tell the tale, but not in hate. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 67 

We meet their loyal names to consecrate 
Who fought and fell, shall we forget? Oh no, 
But high emblaze their names and proudly show 
How nobly stood our sires in dangers great, 
To tell the inspiring tale that so we too 
May meet our hiU of difficulties well. 
For we have problems hard to solve today 
And enemies of greed and gold not few. 
Heaven grant us grace their forces to repel 
And at the call of duty straight obey. 

Address of Mr. Frank H. Severance 

Of Buffalo, N.Y. 

Mr. Frank H. Severance, Secretary of the Buffalo His- 
torical Society, Buffalo, N. Y., spoke as follows: 

The Battle of Lundy's Lane was not only one of the 
world's greatest battles, but it was one of the longest. It 
has been continually fought for 100 years. Marathon and 
Thermopylae, Hastings and Waterloo came to a definite 
end, and history is in no uncertainty as to the result. From 
the Plains of Abraham to the battlefields of South Africa 
British arms have won decisive victories. So they did here, 
if you read British history; if you read Canadian history. 
If you read some American records of it the decision is 
reversed. This battle has waged in the books for 100 years. 

I assume that today an armistice is proclaimed, when 
we can put aside the ancient disputes and meet in amity 
and fraternity. Tomorrow, if you insist, the merry war 
can be resumed for another century. 

In my judgment a great deal of nonsense is talked 
about peace. It is very academic to assert that war is 
horrible, exhausts a country, puts off prosperity and delays 
development. It is a bit inaccurate to assert that Great 
Britain and the United States now are on a full century 



68 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

of unbroken peace, — we do not promote a cordial and 
happy future by misrepresenting the past. Today is bet- 
ter than yesterday — all the yesterdays of a hundred years. 
God grant that the time may never come when I — 
when any citizen of my country — may not visit this hal- 
lowed spot with the same assurance of friendly welcome 
that you extend to us today and with clean appreciation of 
the principles for which this hill was defended. 

Address of Chief Hill of the Six Nations 
Indians. 
Chief Hill, who w^as one of the twelve Indian Chiefs 
that attended the celebration as guests of the Society, and 
wliose presence was an important feature in the observ- 
ances of the day, briefly addressed tlie gathering, pointing 
out that only a month ago they had been the guests of the 
United Empire Loyalists at Thorold. They were glad to be 
here to-day at this celebration of 100 years of peace, and 
glad also on account of the fact that their forefathers had 
given assistance to the British Arms. The men of the Six 
Nations were not savages, but a self-supporting community. 
Sometimes they envied their neighbors in the Reserves who 
were under no expense, while here they were under laws 
which were against the Indian. He asked all to use their 
influence with those in power, and to regard them as 
brothers who had shared in the defence of Canada. He 
was sorry to bring up their grievances at this time, but 
they had no other opportunity. In conclusion, he thanked 
the Committee kindly for the honor paid the Six Nations 
in being asked to send delegates. 

Major Gordon J. Smith, Supt. Six Nations. 

An address by Supt. Smith of the Six Nations Indians, 
entitled "The Battle of Lundy's Lane," was next presented. 
Major Smith's address was as follows: 

The war between Canada and the United States had 




£E=^eB^L£l 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 69 

now been going on for two years and Canada was not yet 
conquered. 

The United States, believing that this object could be 
accomplished by an invasion in force at the Niagara fron- 
tier, ordered Major-General Brown to mobilize a force at 
Buffalo; so early in 1814 we find him enlisting and drilling 
troops at that place. 

General Sir Gordon Drummond had command on the 
Canadian side. Forts George and Mississauga on the left 
bank and Fort Niagara on the right banlc of the Niagara, 
Fort Erie and Burlington Heights were all garrisoned by 
British regulars. 

The invasion took place near Fort Erie on 3rd July, 
1814, and as the fort was but recently occupied and inade- 
quately garrisoned, it easily fell before the invaders. From 
tb<ire the invaders marched northwards until they reached 
Street's Creek — now known as Ussher's Creek — where they 
received such a severe check that they began to realize 
that their task would be a heavy one. The Americans, 
however, continued their advance, and took possession of 
Queenston Heights, where, after a short stay, they returned 
to Chippawa, where we find them on July 25th under 
command of General Brown. 

Having received information that Gen. Brown had 
abandoned Queenston and retired to Chippawa, Gen. Riall, 
in command at Twelve Mile Creek, marched with Col. 
Pearson's Brigade and some artillery, consisting of two 
24-pounders and a howitzer, 825 of all ranks, for Lundy's 
Lane, where he took up his position on the north side near 
its junction with the Queenston Road. 

Riall showed good strategy in his choice of position. 
The road junction commanded the main highways between 
Queenston and Chippawa, and between Twelve Mile Creek 
and the Niagara River. 

There is also a hill rising abruptly towards the east 
and north and gradually sloping towards the south and 
west. About one hundred yards west of the road junction 



70 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

stood a low frame Presbyterian Church, painted red, situ- 
ated on the highest point of the hill. Beside the church 
was a small graveyard enclosed by a rough fence. Both 
sides of Lundy's Lane were bordered by apple, cherry and 
peach trees. 

The slope from the graveyard southerly w^as covered 
by a young orchard, and beyond were cultivated fields and 
meadows, while thick woods less than half a mile away 
bordered each side of the road down to the Niagara River. 

At daybreak on the 25th General Drummond at Niagara 
learned that Brown had retired to Chippawa and that 
Riall had taken up a position in force at Lundy's Lane, 
which would effectually prevent the enemy marching on 
Burlington Heights. 

He therefore ordered Col. Morrison to march to 
Queenston to be in readiness to assist Riall and Col. Tucker 
with his brigade and some Indians to march up the eastern 
bank of the Niagara to capture and take possession of 
Lewiston. The Americans had, however, abandoned the 
fort before Tucker arrived, so he crossed the river to 
Queenston and rested. The 41st and 100th were sent back 
to the forts at Niagara and the remainder united with 
Morrison's force, marched south to join Riall, and reached 
Lundy's Lane after a 14-mile march, with little rest or 
refreshment, and just in time to assist Riall, whose com- 
mand was entirely inadequate to resist the enemy advance, 
which began about 6 o'clock in the evening. The total 
British force at the commencement of the battle was 1,640. 

This force was distributed in the form of a semi- 
circle of about a mile, extending from a point about 200 
yards from the edge of the Niagara gorge westerly. Two 
field guns were placed in the graveyard and supported by 
the 8th King's Regiment and the 89th in the rear; on the 
right were the 1st Royal Scotts and the Six Nations Indians; 
on the left were Canadian Militia and tlie 8th Battalion, 
while one troop of the 19lh Light Dragoons occupied a 
])()silion in the rear on the Queenston Road. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 71 

The 1st Brigade of the enemy, under Gen. Scott, ad- 
vanced about 6 o'clock, and the 9th, 11th and 22nd Regi- 
ments deployed to the left of the Queenston Road and the 
25th to the right, while two field guns were unUmbered in 
the centre of the road. The Glengarries easily held their 
position on the left, the centre attack was repelled, but the 
25th U. S. made its way around the left flank of the British 
between it and the river, suddenly attacked the Incorporated 
Militia, threw it into confusion and took over 100 prisoners. 
This success of the enemy was followed up by the capture 
of the A. D. C. of Gen. Drummond, who was riding to the 
rear to bring up the cavalry, and of Gen. Riall, bleeding 
from a wound, which subsequently caused the amputation 
of an arm. The exultant cheers with which these important 
prisoners were received had hardly died away when an 
answering cheer arose from the British lines, for a well- 
directed shot from the British battery struck an enemy's 
ammunition waggon and caused it to explode. This suc- 
cess encouraged the gunners, and very quickly the Ameri- 
can guns were put out of action. In the meantime the In- 
corporated Militia had recovered from their confusion and 
rallied in rear of the 89th, covering the flank and rear of 
Lundy's Lane. 

Scott now ordered a general advance on the British 
guns of all his brigade west of the Queenston Road. This 
forced the 89th, 8th and Royal Scotts to advance to their 
support. The attack was not repelled until after a sharp 
struggle in which both sides lost heavily. The loss was par- 
ticularly heavy amongst the officers. As a final result the 
American force was driven back, one regiment being almost 
shattered. The summit where the guns stood being con- 
sidered by both sides the key of the position, was naturally 
keenly contested for, and the fact that the slope was strewn 
with dead showed the stubborness of the fight. 

It was now about 9 o'clock, and unless Col. Scott's 
Brigade arrived to reinforce the exhausted British — ex- 
hausted both from the stress of the fight and the long 



72 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

march prior to the fight, they could not longer hold the 
position against practically the whole United States Army, 
lor the reserves had now been brought up. 

Just at this time Col. Scott arrived from Twelve Mile 
Creek, having marched for nine hours continuously. He 
bad 1,200 men under him. He was just in time to take part 
in the most desperate part of the fight. Col. Miller, with 
four regiments in line, supported by a fifth, led the assault 
on the hill. His advance was made under cover of the 
clmrch, the churchyard and the orchard. His extreme 
right, owing to the darkness and the fact that the British 
gunners' attention was more taken up with the centre, was 
able to advance with but little opposition, and, after a heavy 
volley, rushed forward and gained the summit of the hill. 
Several gunners were bayonetted and the guns captured. 

But now the hill had to be retaken by the British, and 
they did it, but only after one of the bloodiest battles on 
record. It was a hand to hand fight, bayonet against 
bayonet. Hiding behind stumps, fences, leaping over 
graves, clubbing each other with the butts of their muskets, 
all mixed up in the darkness in indescribable confusion, 
both sides suffered and both sides claimed victory. 

By midnight hostilities ceased, and the United States 
troops retreated to their camp at Chippawa. The British 
remained in possession of the field. Thus ended the most 
remarkable battle of the whole war. 

Conclusion of the Ceremonies at the 
Speakers' Dais. 

The chairman, Mr. W. H. Arison, in concluding the 
programme, briefly reviewed the proceedings of the cele- 
bration, and cordially expressed his thanks on behalf of 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society for the great success 
of the day. 

The ceremonies were then closed by the singing of the 
National Anthem. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 73 

Troops Reviewed by the Lieut. -Governor. 

After the speaking. Sir John Gibson reviewed the 
troops under Lieut.-Col. Fred W. Hill, Commander of the 
44th Regiment. The twelve different detachments, under 
their own officers, represented every department of Can- 
ada's military forces, and included 50 Mounted Royal Can- 
adian Dragoons from Toronto, in command of Major D. D. 
Young; the 37th Haldimand Rifles, in command of Captain 
Hogarth; the 7th Field Battery of St. Catharines, in com- 
mand of Captain Bell; the Royal Canadian Regiment, 100 
strong, under Major Kaye; the Queen's Own Rifles of 
Toronto, in command of Lieut. B. L. Johnson; the Royal 
Grenadiers, commanded by Capt. Ryerson; the Army Ser- 
vice Corps of Toronto, in command of Major J. C. Allan; 
the Army Medical Corps of Toronto, in command of Major 
E. B. Hardy; the 91st Highlanders of Hamilton and the 
48th Highlanders of Toronto, commanded by Lieut. Hen- 
derson of Hamilton; the 77th Wentworth Regiment of 
Dundas, in command of Lieut. F. E. Leonard; and Com- 
panies "A," "G" and "F" of the 44th Regiment of Niagara 
Falls, under command of Captains Guy B. Gordon, Charles 
Vandersluys and D. A. R. Cameron. The 19th and 44th 
Regimental Bands accompanied the military contingents 
and rendered excellent selections during the ceremonies. 

The Exhibition of Military and Artistic 
Antiquities. 

One of the most interesting features of the celebration 
was the exhibition of Lundy's Lane battle relics, U. E. 
Loyalists' household heirlooms, old military and civil 
documents, military buttons, and artistic antiquities. These 
were the centre of attraction all day long for thousands of 
visitors and citizens. 

Amongst the several collections of old military buttons 
and belt-plates exhibited by local collectors were some rare 
specimens extending back to the taking of Quebec — one 



74 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

button of the "28th Regiment"— at the head of which Gen- 
eral Wolfe received his mortal wound, was of especial 
historic interest, and also several other regimental buttons 
of the same period. Many specimens of the Revolutionary 
War period were there, "Queen's Rangers," "Butler's Rang- 
ers," "60th Royal American," "10th Regiment," etc. All 
the British Regiments of 1812-'14 were represented, and 
most of the American of the same period; Brock's Regi- 
ment, the "49th," was among the rest — with British but- 
tons, too, of the 1837 Rebelhon times; old swords, which 
were dug up in the battle-field; cannon balls and lead bul- 
lets — all contributing to the general interest of the collec- 
tions. The historic old china, earthenware and pottery 
articles used by the U. E. LoyaUsts and early settlers were 
much admired for their beauty and antiquity — as well as 
many other examples of household utensils, such as candle- 
sticks, old pewter, horn spoons, silver and copper lustre- 
ware, etc. 

An officer's scarlet coat, lent by Miss Carnochan of 
Niagara, was a valuable addition to the military relics. 

The exhibit was under the personal supervision of Mr. 
Robert Chisholm, whose efficient management contri- 
buted greatly to the pleasure of visitors. 

R. W. G. 

The Centennial Medal. 

The experience of all ages has shown that there is 
nothing more indestructible, artistic or permanent than a 
medal, or coin, upon which to record the great historic 
events of the world. In fact many ancient kings and 
peoples would not now be known of but for the finding of 
coins which proved that they had at one time existed. 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society made the issuance 
of a medal one of the features of the Centenary, and it 
happens that it is the only medal struck relating to Cen- 
tennial observances of the war of 1812-14. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 75 

The medal is 1>:^ inches in diameter, having? on the 
obverse the "Arms" or Seal of the Society, witli the addi- 
tion of "1914," and on the reverse, "To commemorate the 
100th anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane between 
the British and United States forces, July 25th, 1814." 

A limited number were struck in silver for presenta- 
tion to distinguished guests at the Centenary, and to states- 
men, museums and art galleries in Canada. A large num- 
ber were issued in bronze and presented to the school 
children taking part in the ceremonies, besides being sold 
at the celebration. 

The medal has met with very cordial appreciation from 
its recipients everywhere, and will remain forever as an 
artistic monument of the commemoration, which was the 
largest historical meeting ever held in Canada. 

R. W. G. 



A few of the letters acknowledging the 
receipt of the Centennial Medal. 

Prime Minister's Office, Canada, 
Ottawa, Ont., 1st August, 1914. 
My Dear Sir : — 

Will you be good enough to convey to the officers and 
members of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society my sincere 
thanks for the medal and badge, which they were good 
enough to send to me, in commemoration of one hundred 
years of peace between Canada and the United States. I 
shall preserve the medal and badge as an interesting 
souvenir. 

With best wishes, believe me. 

Yours faithfully, 

R. L. BORDEN. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

Niagara Falls, Ont. 



76 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Government House, Toronto, 

4th August, 1914. 
My Dear Mr. Geary : — 

I must thank you very cordially lor your letter of the 
27th ult., which accompanied the medal. I am very pleased 
to have the memento of the occasion, which really was a 
very interesting and important meeting. 

Having been called away from the platform to take 
the salute from the troops as they marched away, I fear 
the gathering would think my behavior somewhat abrupt 
and selfish, and I afterwards feared that I ought and prob- 
ably should have returned to the platform. 

You are to be congratulated on the success of the 
day's proceedings, and I assure you that both Lady Gibson 
end I enjoyed same very much indeed. 

Believe me, yours most truly, 

J. M. GIBSON. 
R. W. Geary, 

Niagara Falls, Ont. 



THE ART MUSEUM OF TORONTO. 
SIR EDMUND WALKER, C.V.O., PRESIDENT. 
SIR EDMUND OSLER, M.P.. VICE-PRESIDENT. 
EDWARD R. GREIG, SECRETARY AND CURATOR. 

"The Grange," 
Toronto, 12th August, 1914. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 
Dear Sir: — 

Your letter of the 30th July was duly received, but as 
I was out of town it remained unopened until my return 
today. 

I thank you very much indeed for the silver medal, 
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of 
Lundy's Lane, which will be placed in "The Grange." 

In the meantime will you kindly accept my thanks 
r.nd as soon as there is a meeting of the Council, I will have 





^:1 0" ANNIVERSARY 



BETWEENJHE, 
. B R J T I's iff^ wITteWt AT E S 




THE CENTENARY MEDAL. 



COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES 77 

a formal resolution passed expressing the Museum's appre- 
ciation of your kindness. 

Yours very truly, 

EDWARD R. GREIG, 
Secretary and Curator. 



NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA 

Office of the Director, 

Ottawa, August 5th, 1914. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ontario. 
Dear Sir: — 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 30th, 
enclosing silver medal, commemorative of the hundredth 
anniversary of the Rattle of Lundy's Lane. 

On behalf of the Trustees of the National Gallery, I 
beg to thank you for the interesting memento, which will 
be carefully preserved in the National Gallery records. 

Yours faithfully, 

ERIC BROWN, Director. 



The Decoration of the Monuments and 
Graves in the Cemetery. 

The Society made the decoration of the historical 
monuments, memorials and graves in the cemeter>' a mat- 
ter of much consideration. Upon the grave of every U. E. 
Loyalist and early settler were placed a wreath and flags. 
The Battle monument, the monument of Laura Secord, the 
American memorial, Usshcr's pillar, Bishop's tomb, and 
the monument of the late James Wilson, C. E., Park Super- 
intendent, the first Secretary of Lundy's Lane Historical 
Society, were specially decorated with flowers, flags and 
wreaths, and flowers were also placed on very many private 
graves by relatives and friends. 



PART III 



PRESS REPORTS 

AND 

EDITORIALS 



PRESS REPORTS AND EDITORIALS 



Inspiring Lessons from the War of 1812. 

Glories of War and Peace Sounded at Lundy's Lane 

Celebration — Dr. Alex. Eraser on Why the British 

Won — An International Jubilation. 

(Staff Correspondence of The Globe) 

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont., July 25.— Under circum- 
stances of memorable local enthusiasm and inter- 
national concord, the one hundredth anniversary 
of the Battle of Lundy's Lane was celebrated here today by 
a crowd estimated at ten thousand persons. Though 
designed originally as a mere anniversary of the battle, the 
event inevitably gained the aspect that is in everybody's 
mouth, and despite the scarcely suppressed protests of 
several national enthusiasts, it became a rousing demon- 
stration in honor of the century of peace. Various speak- 
ers had fun with the historians over the endless contro- 
versy as to the real result of the battle. "The embattled 
hosts struggled for many long hours," declared Dr. J. H. 
Coyne, the St. Thomas historian, "and thought the battle 
was over, and rested. But the fight was only transferred. 
The historians took it up, and their warfare continues 
today." Mr. Frank H. Severance, Secretary of the Buffalo 
Historical Society, also teased the historians. "It was the 
longest battle on record," he remarked. "It has been fought 
continuously for a hundred years. The British forces won 
a decisive victory here, if you read British or Canadian 
history. If you read American history the verdict is rever- 
sed. I take it that this afternoon is an armistice in the 
cessation of hostilities. Tomorrow, if you insist, the merry 
war may go on." 

Outside of these sentences, in a light vein, the inter- 
national references to the outcome of the battle were not 



82 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

disturbing, though plenty of historiail material was poured 
out on the eagerly-listening crowd. 

Historical Societies Active. 
The celebration was inaugurated and carried out by 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, of which Mr. R. W. 
Geary is President, and of which Lieut.-Col. Cruikshank, 
author of "The Documentary History of the War of 1812," 
has long been an active member. Mr. W. H. Arison was 
master of ceremonies. The Ontario Historical Society, 
with which the local body is affiliated, was represented by 
many members, including the President, Mr. Charles M. 
Warner, of Napanee; Veterans Royal Canadian Dragoons, 
detachments from various regiments, including the Queen's 
Own Rifles, 48th Highlanders, Royal Grenadiers, 37th Regi- 
ment and other corps were present, and gave military color 
and dash to the proceedings. The soldiery led the proces- 
sion, which included various local societies and school 
children, through crowded and flag-decked streets. As 
the processionists climbed the hill into the quiet cemetery 
where rest the nation's heroic dead beside hundreds o) 
those who ended their lives in peace, the parallel with the 
hot July night of a century ago was easily imagined. 

A Symbolic Incident. 
A temporary stand had been erected near the British 
soldiers' monument, and on its steps stood a chorus of 
sweet little schoolgirls, heads bedecked with maple leaves, 
who, under the direction of Mr. Charles Bennett Kaye, late 
of Norwich Cathedral, England, rendered various patriotic 
songs. From this stand went forth during the afternoon 
six Canadian and six American maidens, dressed in white, 
who, while a band played a reverential hymn, placed sym- 
bolic wreaths of flowers, first on the monument to the 
British soldiers, and then on the stone wiiich marks the 
graves of American soldiers buried nearby. The spirit of 
this simple incident seemed to take possession of the vast 
crowd who witnessed it. Another memorable event of the 



PRESS REPORTS 83 

afternoon was when Col. Fred McQueen of Toronto recited 
Duncan Campbell Scott's poem, "The Battle of Lundy's 
Lane." It w^as given with much dramatic effect, and its 
strong lines and moving narrative brought a roar of appre- 
ciation. 

The Indians' Protest. 
Chief Hill of the Six Nations Indians, Brantford, whose 
race came in for warm thanks for their aid to the British 
in the war, added a pathetic note to the proceedings. He, 
with several other Chiefs, had listened to the speeches, and 
when he was called upon at the last he said the Indians in 
Canada were unfairly treated. In the United States the 
roads on the reserves were maintained by the Government 
and not by the Indians. "We are sorry to mingle com- 
plaints with this celebration," he said, "but it seems to be 
the only place that we can get a hearing." 

Sir John Gibson's Speech. 

A welcome from Mayor Dores on behalf of the city of 
Niagara Falls was followed by a vigorous address by Sir 
John Gibson on behalf of the Province. The Lieutenant- 
Governor rejoiced in the fact that the two nations had lived 
side by side in amity for one hundred years. That there 
should ever be another war between them was simply un- 
thinkable. Lundy's Lane was one of the most stubborn 
battles ever fought. The carnage was appalling. Charges 
were made by one side and the other in close and impetuous 
succession through the darkness of the night. Drummond 
and Riall were offset by the equal bravery of Generals 
Brown and Scott. (Applause). Real bravery and heroic 
devotion were that night displayed by those engaged which 
would not suffer by comparison with the storming of 
Sebastopol. 

A Review of the War. 

Dr. Alexander Eraser, Ontario Archivist, gave a care- 
fully prepared historical review of the causes and issues of 
the war. He accused the newly-formed United States Gov- 



84 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

ernment of that day of unreliability and of being a "century 
behind the times in its estimate of the value of truth in 
international affairs." Unexpressed causes, of the seeking 
of war by the Republic were its obligation to help France 
in return for aid in the revolutionary war and a desire to 
capture Canada. Encouraged by the tacit aid and advice 
of Napoleon and by the small population of Canada (477,- 
000 to their 7,250,000) , the Americans looked upon Canada 
as an easy prey. At the same time there was a considerable 
anti-war spirit, especially in Massachusetts, Dr. Eraser con- 
tinued. 

"In the contest we have a large against a small coun- 
try, and notwithstanding divisions of opinion in each, the 
large country, according to the prophets, should have tri- 
umphed. Why, therefore, did not the United States win? 

Why the British Won. 

"(1) Because the war was one of aggression, and in 
such a war a human element was to be reckoned with out- 
side of ordinary military calculations. 

"(2) The character of the people must be taken into 
consideration. Though a small number, a mere handful 
of 77,000, iron was in their blood. They rid themselves of 
traitors to their country, and they were in the breach to 
die. 

"(3) Something must be said of the leaders. Prevost, 
brave and experienced as he was, proved himself unfit for 
supreme command. Brock was a gift of the gods to his 
country. He and Drummond are the outstanding Generals 
of the war. 

"We are then thrown back on the spirit of determina- 
tion exercised by a patriotic people. The satisfaction we 
feel to-day is that to us the war of 1812-14 was a war of 
defence, not of offence or of aggression. Further, that we 
were a weak j)eople, as indeed, comparatively speaking, we 
are to-day, and that in our militarj'^ and national weakness 



PRESS REPORTS 85 

we were strong in our faith, strong in our loyalty, and in- 
vincible in the defence of our home and country. 

An Inspiration to Canada. 

"It needs no prophet's eye to see that it will always be 
so. Heaven is not always on the side of the big battalions, 
as the history of war has demonstrated from the beginning 
of time. Abraham's shepherds decimated Chedarladmer's 
hosts, Gideon's was a small host, purged of the faint- 
hearted and the weak-kneed. The Ten Thousand is im- 
mortal, and Bannockburn is celebrated to-day. 

"The glory of the 1812-14 war rests with Simcoe's 
settler fighting for his home and flag, as well as wath Dor- 
chester's regiments. That war gave to Canada a saga of 
glowing tradition, an epic of patriotism, a historic pageant 
of men and w^omen whose deeds will be our national inspir- 
ation and whose names will be our everlasting glory. The 
moral of it to us is clear. It is to love our homes, to glorify 
them, to make thein worthy of our finest and most rugged 
patriotism, to guard their honor and exalt their wholesome 
influence. For them the fathers fought, be it ours to 
transmit that love of them as a priceless heritage to our 
descendants. To cultivate, uphold and maintain a spirit 
of nationality, intense and true to the ideals of our best 
past, and to honor that past in the best way, by striving to 
be worthy of it in every relation and duty of citizenship 
and life." (Loud cheers.) 

What the War Accomplished. 
Col. Peter A. Porter, well known as a local historian 
in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and descendant of an American 
General, Peter B. Porter, in the war, followed in eloquent 
terms. "We Americans," he said, "join with you in the 
earnest hope that the future will be as free from war 
between us as the past centurj^ has been." The War of 
1812, he declared, had established the position of the United 
States among the powers of the earth. "It also made 
Canada a more integral part of the British Empire. It 



86 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

welded your loyalty into a concrete force. It laid the foun- 
dations for your present great Dominion, and its close 
resulted in the peace which has continued even until to- 
day." 

Dr. Coyne's address contained many illuminating 
flashes on the battle itself. The six hours' conflict in the 
dark; the volleys aimed at lanterns in the hot, smoke-laden 
night; the crude medical work, and the cruel plight of the 
wounded. 

"It was a futile war," Dr. Coyne continued, "so far as 
its ostensible objects w^erc concerned. Kot one cause 
claimed by Congress was even mentioned in the treaty of 
peace. But in its indirect results the war was of immense 
importance. It drew a line of cleavage between New Eng- 
land and the south which widened and deepened into the 
great rebellion. It made Canada more intensely British in 
sentiment than it was before. It made a country of small, 
scattered settlements a country of national ideals and senti- 
ments." 

For the future, Dr. Coyne said, the two countries wer^ 
one in spirit and in feeling under separate flags. They had 
many social problems in common, and their duty would be 
rivalry in research rather than rivalry in war. 

Mr. George D. Emerson and Mr. F. H. Severance of 
Buffalo and Mr. C. M. Warner of Napanee, spoke briefly; 
and Miss Janet Carnochan read an inspiring sonnet com- 
posed for the occasion. 

Miss Carnochan's Sonnet. 
Miss Carnochan's sonnet was as follows: 
Upon this hill we come to celebrate 
That fateful day a century ago, 
How saved our heritage with forceful blow^ 
We meet to tell the tale, but not in hate. 
We meet tlieir loyal names to consecrate 
Who fouglit and fell, shall we forget? Oh, no. 
But high emblaze their names and proudly show 



PRESS REPORTS 87 

How nobly stood our sires in dangers great, 
To tell the inspiring tale that so we, too, 
May meet our hill of difliculties well. 
For we have problems hard to solve to-day 
And enemies of greed and gold not few. 
Heaven grant us grace their forces to repel 
And at the call of duty straight obey. 



Peace and War Commemorated. 

Great Demonstration Marks Centenary of Battle of 

Lundy's Lane — Speakers heard from both 

Canada and the United States. 

From The Mail and Empire, Toronto, Monday, July 27, 1914 
Niagara Falls, Ont., July 26. — Lundy's Lane, the scene 
of one of the fiercest battles in the War of 1812, was com- 
memorated yesterday on the 100th anniversary of the battle, 
when representatives of Canada and the United States met 
together in friendship to celebrate the completion of one 
hundred years of peace between the nations. The pro- 
ceedings were under the auspices of the Lundy's Lane His- 
torical Society. The Niagara Frontier Historical Society, 
of Niagara Falls, N.Y., participated in the celebration, 
speakers from both sides of the line being heard, while a 
group of young ladies, half of whom were from either 
country, united in decorating the graves of those who fell 
in the memorable battle. 

The day's celebration commenced with a luncheon 
given by the local society to the speakers of the day and 
their friends at the Clifton House, after which a military 
contingent, made up of members of local regiments and 
representatives of the Toronto garrison, together with a 
company of the United States National Guards, school 
cadets and boy scouts, formed in line and paraded through 
the city to Lundy's Lane. The regiments represented were: 
Queen's Own Rifles, Royal Grenadiers, 48th Highlanders, 



88 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Royal Canadian Dragoons, Royal Canadian Regiment, 7th 
Field Battery, 19th Regiment, 44th Regiment, 37th Regi- 
ment, Army Medical Corps. The American troops were 
from Fort Niagara, and there were also in line representa- 
tives of the Six Nations Indians. 

On arriving at the top of the hill beyond the historic 
cemetery the speakers took their places upon a platform 
which had been erected, and which was decorated for the 
occasion with bunting and flags of both countries, the en- 
tire line of march and the vicinity of the battlelield also 
being covered with flags and banners inscribed with the 
names of the regiments that took part in the battle. A 
number of patriotic selections of both countries were sung 
by a chorus of school children at intervals during the 
speeches, the music being furnished by several regimental 
bands. The chairman of the celebration, Mr. W. H. Arison, 
introduced the speakers, and a short prayer for continued 
peace was said by Rev. Mr. Robb, while Mayor O. E. Dores 
welcomed the visitors. 

Sir John Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, was 
the first speaker, and in a brief address he paid a high 
tribute to the memory of the brave soldiers who were en- 
gaged in the fight 100 years ago upon the ground where 
the concourse was assembled. Since that time, the speaker 
declared, a vast change had taken place, and war between 
ihe two neighboring nations had become unthinkable since 
both had come to realize that their great national and inter- 
national duties led them in the direction of lasting peace. 
Sir John enlarged upon the greatness of the national heri- 
tage preserved to Canadians by the valor of their fore- 
fathers, and concluded by saying that, while Canadians 
cherished the warmest feelings of friendship and fraternity 
for their great neighbor to the south, they would for ever 
continue with heart and voice to say "God Save the King." 

Letters of regret were read from II. R. H. the Duke of 
Connaught, Sir Robert Borden, and others, after which Dr. 
.Mex. Eraser, Provincial Archivist, gave an address of an 



PRESS RP:P0RTS 89 

historical character, dcahng largely with the causes leadinj( 
up to the war, the source of which reached to the Revolu- 
tionary War. While there had been errors on both sides, 
in the opinion of Dr. Fraser, diplomacy would have re- 
moved the existing grievances had not the inlluence of 
France entered into the situation. In conclusion, Dr. 
Fraser dealt at some length with the situation in Canada 
at the time of the outbreak of the war, and he found the 
chief reason for the failure of the Americans to be the 
magnificent defence for home and country made by t he 
Canadians, assisted by the British troops, coupled with a 
considerable element of opposition to the war in the United 
States, particularly in the States along the frontier of Upper 
Canada. 

Col. Porter, of Tonawanda, N.Y., dealt with the present 
peaceful relations existing between the two nations, declar- 
ing that nowhere was this manifested more particularly 
than along the Niagara frontier. 

Several other speakers were heard and poems suitable 
to the occasion were read, in particular a sonnet written for 
the celebration by Miss Janet Carnochan, the noted historian 
of the Niagara frontier. 

Among those present on the platform were also the 
following: Dr. Severance and George D. Emerson, from 
the Buffalo Historical Society and City Council; Clarence 
M. Warner, Napanee; Miss Reid and Miss Rothwcll, Ottawa; 
Andrew Braid, Detroit; Dr. Jas. D. Whitaker, Cleveland; 
Senator McCall, Simcoe; Dr. Coyne and Jas. Lanigan, St. 
Thomas; G. R. Pattullo, Woodstock; S. D. Passmore, Major 
Gordon J. Smith, and Chiefs of the Six Nations Indians, 
Brantford; R. E. Land, and Justin Gritfin, Hamilton; Dr. 
Jessop, M.P.P., Dr. Musgrove, M.P.P., Evan Fraser, H. 
Lovelock, Lt.-Col. Belcher, Jas. Nichol, Stratford; Major 
Beck, Major Cooper and Capt. J. A. Macdonald, of Veterans' 
Association, Toronto; Col. G. Sterhng Ryerson, W. J. Hor- 
ton. Dr. E. A. Hardy, Dr. McCormick. 

Two interesting figures upon the platform were Mrs. 



90 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Newton, an aged lady of 83, whose father was Major Mac- 
Dougall, of the Glengarry Fencibles, who was wounded live 
times in the battle, and Mrs. L. S. Lundy, who in spite of 
her years was able to take a seat on the platform. 



The Battle of Lundy' s Lane. 
Dr. Alexander Fraser, Toronto. 

From the Mail and Empire, Toronto, Monday, July 27, 1914 
Pilgrim-spirited Canadians from many parts of 
Ontario assembled on Saturday, at Niagara Falls, where, 
within sound of the famous cataract, memories that Canada 
will not suffer to die, were revived and revered anew. 
Brave deeds, whatever the walk of Ufe in which they may 
be found, appeal to the best in man, but when done on the 
field of battle, against odds, and in defence of home and 
country, as was the case at Lundy's Lane, the patriotic 
emotions are stirred and the tribute to their memory be- 
comes a nation's enduring homage. 

"Not here? Oh, yes, our hearts their presence feel. 

Viewless, not voiceless, from the deepest shells, 

On memory's shore harmonious echoes steal. 

And names which, in the days gone by, were spells, 

Are blent with soft music, if there dwells 

The spirit here our country's fame to spread 

While every breast, with joy and triumph swells, 

And earth reverberates to our measured tread. 

Banner and wreath will own our reverence for the dead.' 

The scene today presents to the visitor a different aspect 
to that presented one hundred years ago when the liercely- 
contested battle was fought. The key to the position was 
a hill, now known as Drummond Hill, situated almost 
opposite the Horseshoe Fall, and within an area formed by 
the junction of Lundy's Lane running over the hill to the 
west and Queenston Road which skirled the Niagara River 



PRESS REPORTS 91 

southward from Qucenston to Chippawa. Settlement of 
the land had been in progress for about fifteen years. 
There were many "clearings" in the locality and the villages 
of Chippawa and Fort Erie would contain almost twenty 
houses each. There was, however, much dense brush and 
broken, waste land, and on the ground where part of the 
fighting occurred tree and underbrush were a trying ob- 
struction as well as a shelter to the combatants. 

The Crown grantee of the land now so famous was 
James Forsyth, whose patent for 400 acres was issued in 
1798. A year later a part of this grant was transferred to 
Christopher Burchner, Forsyth's son-in-law, and Burchner 
dedicated half an acre, on the top of the hill, as a cemetery 
for the first settlers. It is said to be the highest point on 
the Niagara frontier. Around this little roughly enclosed 
cemetery the battle raged, and next day many of the soldiers 
who fell, British and American, were buried in it. A more 
picturesque spot could scarcely have been selected as the 
resting-place of the dead, "near," as Dr. Harper says, "the 
torrent's resonant gorge; where the rhythm of the centuries 
unrolls its wondrous lay." The Lane extends about two 
miles from the Queenston Road, to the farm of William 
Lundy, a Pennsylvania Quaker, who at the close of the 
Revolutionary War took up a 500-acre grant of land in the 
Township of Stamford, where his descendants are to the 
present day. After William Lundy the Lane was named. 

How different is the scene today! Lundy's Lane forms 
a beautiful, well-built street of a prosperous city. On Drum- 
mond Hill is a large monumented cemetery, including n 
sculptured memorial to Laura Secord, the heroine of the 
War of 1812-14. A commodious and substantially buiTl 
church is nearby; stores and residences fill the waste lands, 
and only the sacred memory of the past remains. 

The main points in the battle may be noted briefly. 
The American army, numbering at least 4,000 men, lay a I 
Chippawa, commanded by the veteran. General Brown, 
under whom were Generals Winfield Scott and Eleazer 



92 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Ripley, experienced and brave officers, the objective point 
being Burlington Heights. The British forces were spread 
over the peninsula at different posts, and had to be brought 
together long distances, after the battle had actually begun. 
The^ were under the immediate command of General 
Phineas Riall, described as being "as brave as Ney in 
action," an experienced commander, though scarcely for- 
tunate in the Niagara engagements. The Commander-in- 
Chief was Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond, of Meg- 
gincli Castle, Perthshire, a brilliant soldier, who had won 
distinction in the Napoleonic wars. He arrived at Niagara 
from Toronto only on the morning of the battle. Under 
him were Colonels Harvey and Morrison and officers of the 
calibre of Fitzgibbon, who were familiar with the ground. 
Riall placed a force numbering less than 1,000 men, under 
Col. Pearson, at Lundy's Lane junction, about three miles 
distant from the enemy. Col. Herculus Scott was still at 
Twelve Mile Creek with about 1,200 men, most of whoin 
were young and inexperienced, and this force Riall ordered 
to join Pearson at Lundy's Lane. In the meantime General 
Brown, fearing a British advance from Lewiston on Fort 
Schlosser, above the Falls, on the American side, where 
was the base of his supplies, sought to create a diversion by 
marching from Chippawa to Queenston. He threw for- 
ward Gen. Scott's brigade. This was the fii-si move in the 
battle. Riall, thinking that Brown was attacking in force, 
ordered Pearson to fall back on Queenston, and then sent 
orders countermanding Col. Herculus Scott to divert from 
Lundy's Lane to Queenston. On the arrival of Drummond 
early in the day at Queenston, he learned of the dispositions 
that had been made by Riall, and at once proceeded to 
Lundy's Lane, arriving after Riall had ordered Pearson's 
retreat. With Drummond were about 800 men, who, with 
Pearson's force, made up a body of from 1,600 to 1,800. He 
recalled Pearson's men at once, and despatched orders to 
Col. Herculus Scott to retrace his march from Queenston 
and to make for Lundy's Lane, determining to give full 



PRESS REPORTS 93 

battle to the enemy. It was then nearin^ 6 o'clock in the 
afternoon, and Drumniond's men had liad a loni:; marcfi, 
but they were formed on the hill, on the sunnnit of which 
Drummond placed his artillery. Gen. Brown marched up 
to Winfield Scott's assistance, and shortly the attack was 
begun. The fighting was the fiercest of the war, and, dark- 
ness setting in, it was sometimes hard to distinguish friend 
from foe. Again and again fortunes varied; desperate 
attacks on the British artillery were launched and 
failed, but at last the enemy under Col. Miller captured the 
guns, having approached under cover of a shrubbery fence. 
It is claimed the British recaptured the cannon and an 
American gun in addition. The claim is disputed; and 
owing to the confusion in the darkness of the night the 
point is uncertain, but daylight showed the guns in British 
possession. At nine o'clock in the evening Col. Herculus 
Scott's weary-footed troops, after marching and counter- 
marching twenty miles on a hot July day, arrived at t he 
scene. They were not in a condition to be very effective, 
hut their presence enabled Drummond to extend his line 
and strengthen his defences. For three hours longer the 
fight went on in confusion and disorder, with only the lurid 
blazes from the musketry to light up the scene, until shortly 
after midnight the enemy was called off, both Generals 
Brown and Winfield Scott having been wounded. Gen. Riall 
wounded and a prisoner, and Gen. Drummond wounded 
in the neck but able to remain on duty. 

Lundy's Lane has been described as essentially a sol- 
dier's battle, and certainly the valor, endurance and fighting 
qualities of all concerned have never been called in ques- 
tion. While there are still those who, in admiration of 
the stubborn combatants, would agree to call it a drawn 
battle, it was nevertheless in all the essentials and purposes 
of the fight a British victory and as such will continue to 
be known. 

Gen. Drummond, born in Quebec in 1771, the friend 
of the Duke of Kent, the coadjutor of Abercrombie and 



94 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Sir Eyre Coote, succeeded Prevost as commander of the 
iorces and administrator-in-chicf of the Canadas. When 
at his own request he returned to Britain in 1816, his de- 
parture was deeply regretted by all classes. The honor of 
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath was conferred 
upon him for his services, and in further recognition the 
grand cross of that order. In 1825 he became a full General 
in the army, and lived to be 84 years of age. 

General Riall recovered from his wounds and in 1816 
was appointed Governor of the Island of Grenada and its 
dependencies. He received the double knighthood of the 
Hanoverian Guelphic Order and of Great Britain, and before 
his death at Paris in 1841 had attained the full rank of 
General. 

Others who led the battle rose to high honor and lefl 
their names on the imperishable page of Canadian history; 
and others, too, whose glory will not be forgotten, gave up 
tlieir lives on the field. Their reward is posterity's benison, 
and the diapason of Niagara their everlasting requiem. 



Keep Centenary of Famous Fight. 

Canadians and Americans Observe Anniversary of Battle 
of Lundy'sLane — Big Procession is Held — Monu- 
ment and Graves Decorated and Addresses 
Delivered by Noted Men. 
From The Toronto World, July 27, 1914 
Niagara Falls, Ont., July 25. — On the same ground 
where one hundred years ago today was fought one of the 
most bloody and hotly contested battles of the war of 
1812-13-14, was celebrated the centenary of the Battle of 
Lundy's Lane Saturday. The celebration was one of the 
most noteworlliy events in the history of the Niagara fron- 
tier. Where armies of two English-speaking nations 
poured shot into each other's ranks just a century ago, 
thousands of Britons and Americans gathered to pay hom- 
age to the memory of the heroes who fell in the conflict. 



PRESS REPORTS 95 

The scene of the battlefield when the ceremonies were 
at their height was an inspiring one. Canadian mihtia in 
gay scarlet tunics and khaki service uniforms, military 
bands, boy scouts, veterans of the Fenian Raid and of the 
American Civil War arid the Spanish-American War, school 
children from the United States and prominent men of both 
nations stood with bared heads or at attention while the 
"Maple Leaf" and "Star Spangled Banner" were played. It 
was a scene that will live long in the memory of twelve 
thousand odd persons who participated in it. 

Exercises Begun. 
The exercises began at 1.45 o'clock with a miUtary and 
civic procession. The procession formed at the Armory 
of the 44th Regiment, in Victoria avenue, under the com- 
mand of Lieut.-Col. Fred W. Hill. It consisted of military 
contingents representing various branches of the Canadian 
service and headed by the 19th Regiment Band; represen- 
tatives of the veterans' associations of Ontario; chiefs of the 
Six Nations and other Indians; Niagara Falls Collegiate 
Institute Cadets, the Citizens' Band of this city; the Ontario 
Historical Society; Mayor O. E. Dores and city oft'icials; 
United Empire Loyalists of Canada; Mayor William Laugh- 
lin and the city officials of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; the Niagara 
Frontier Historical Society, Niagara Falls N.Y.; historical 
and patriotic societies of both nations; city and county 
school boards; the Centenary Peace Celebration Commit- 
tees of Niagara Falls Ont., and Niagara Falls, N.Y.; civic 
and fraternal societies and Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

At the Battlefield. 

The procession moved to the old battlefield and the 
civic exercises began. After the invocation by the Rev. 
Andrew D. Robb, an address of welcome was delivered by 
Mayor Oliver E. Dores. 

Sir John M. Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, 
dealt at length on the significance of the occasion and paid 
a tribute to the memory of the men who fell in the war. 



96 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Monument Decorated. 
"The Maple Leaf Forever" was then sung by a chorus 
of school children, then followed the historical decoration 
of the monument and graves of those who fell in the battle, 
by a committee of twelve Canadian and American young 
women, during which a military band played "Abide With 
Me." The young women representing Niagara Falls, Out., 
were the Misses Grace Geary, Verena Zybach, Gertrude 
Lundy, Catharine Butters, Marguerite Morse and Winifred 
Olmsted. Those representing the United States were the 
Misses Helen Kammerer, Leah Turney, Margaret Cain, Mat- 
tie McGahey, Hazel Hulls and Marion De Veaux. 

Medals Presented 
The ceremonies then closed with the presentation of 
commemorative medals to the distinguished guests by R. 
W. Geary, President of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
and a series of patriotic and historical addresses by 
Dr. Alexander Eraser, F.R.S.C, Provincial Archivist of 
Ontario; the Hon. Peter A. Porter of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; 
Clarence M. Warner, President of the Ontario Historical 
Society, George D. Emerson, Buffalo; Dr. Jas. H. Coyne, 
St. Thomas, Ont.; Frank H. Severance, Secretary of the 
Buffalo Historical Society; Chief Hill of the Six Nations. 



Enormous Crowds at Celebration of Battle 
of Lundy's Lane 

From Niagara Falls Review, Niagara Falls, Ont. 
The Lundy's Lane demonstration in celebration of the 
hundredth anniverstiry of the British victory passed oil 
Saturday afternoon without a hitch. The weather was 
ideal, and it is no exaggeration to say that the crowds who 
attended must have numbered anywhere trom 15,000 to 
20,000. Long before the parade arrived, dense crowds 
lined the slopes on either side, the white dresses of the 
ladies lending a very pleasing effect to the scene. Refresh- 




THE BATTLEFIELD— ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER. 



PRESS REPORTS 97 

ment booths and stalls were everywhere and as the day 
was very warm a brisk business was done. No eilort had 
been spared in the way of decoration, and the display of 
bunting wdth the flags of both countries everywhere in 
evidence, gave one the impression of a town en fete. Far 
different must have been the scenes enacted on this spot 
100 years ago! 

The monuments erected to the dead soldiers of both 
rations had been beautifully decorated with flowers, and 
the known graves of the fallen heroes decked with small 
flags of their respective countries. A grand stand had been 
erected near the monument to the British slain, from which 
the speeches were to be delivered; tiers of seats being 
arranged in front for the accommodation of the school 
children who were to sing patriotic songs during the after- 
noon, under the leadership of Prof. Charles Bennett Kaye, 
late organist of Durham Cathedral. One could not fail to 
observe the wording of a large motto on the grand stand 
which ran as follows: 

"Upon this hill we pause and list to memories far, 
When from this sacred height boomed forth the roar of 
war." 

Shortly before 3 o'clock the parade w^as seen coming 
up the Lane under the command of Lt.-Col. Hill, whidi 
followed in its main outline, the order of procession already 
given in these columns. The crowds showed their appre- 
ciation of the display in no uncertain manner as the dif- 
ferent contingents passed, the smart soldier-like bearing of 
the troops being the subject of universal comment. 

After the military had taken up positions around the 
cemetery and the distinguished guests had taken their seats 
in the grand stand, the proceedings were opened by a short 
invocation by the Rev. A. D. Robb of Morrison Street 
Methodist Church. 

Mayor Dores then gave a short address, in which he 
v/elcomed the citizens of the United States, who were join- 
ing with us in the celebration of 100 years of peace. In 



98 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

1814 we met as enemies, but now happily as friends. He 
had great pleasure in introducing to them the Lieutenant- 
Governor of this great Province of Upper Canada, His 
Honor, Sir John M. Gibson, a man who was esteemed and 
revered by all who knew him, and who would next address 
the meeting. 

Sir John M. Gibson, who, on rising was received with 
a great ovation, stated that, on an occasion like the present, 
there was great danger of speakers forgetting that brevity 
lias great merit, and that lie might not l^ecome tedious, he 
had concluded to read the remarks he wished to make. He 
was grateful and returned thanks to the distinguished 
gathering present for their welcome to him. His presence 
that day was due as much to his desire to take part in these 
ceremonies from personal feelings, as in his pubhc capacity 
as Lieutenant-Governor of this large Province. He noted 
with great satisfaction that every feature of the proceedings 
had been fully provided for by numerous speakers. 

He then referred briefly to the war, referring to Stoney 
Creek, Queenston Heights and the Immortal Sir Isaac Brock, 
who had for a time been one of his predecessors as Gov- 
ernor of the Province. The patriotic valour of our ances- 
tors had given us a glorious heritage, and after 100 years of 
friendship war was unthinkable now. The Battle of Lundy's 
Lane was one of the most stubborn engagements that had 
taken place, the carnage appalling, and the havoc wrought 
by the charges awful. The bravery of Drummond and 
Riall was met by the equal bravery of Brown and Scott, 
so that the battle, while being one of the best sustained, 
was also one of the most sanguinary. The desperate on- 
slaughts of the Americans to obtain the mastery was met 
by the valour of the British regulars and Canadian Militia, 
determined to hold the country. The Lincoln Militia from 
the other end of the Province was represented in this 
strenuous fight by the father of a lady, at present on that 
platf(jrm, and who was severely wounded. Too mudli 
honor could not be given to the early militia of this country 



PRESS REPORTS 99 

for the part they took in the war, as also to the Indian 
braves. 

He trusted that after the lengthy period of peace, all 
causes of dispute had forever disappeared; there was room 
on this continent for two great Anglo-Saxon peoples to live 
m amity. We cling to the northern country through ties 
of filial affection, with the certain prospect of becoming a 
great nation. It was necessary for our future material 
growth and national greatness, that we had survived llie 
colonial stage, wise statesmanship would later define more 
clearly our relations to the Mother Country. It was our 
ambition to attain a high position among the nations, to 
hold the best relations with the United States, but never 
ceasing to sing "God Save the King." 

The President then read several letters from distin- 
guished personages expressing regTet at their inability to 
be present. Among them, one from the Duke of Connaught, 
Governor-General of Canada, expressing his regret that 
owing to his leaving on the 23rd inst. for his western lour, 
he could not be present. Others were from Premier Sir R. 
L. Borden, Sir James Whitney, the Minister of Education, 
and Col. Cruikshank. 

The choir of school children then sang "The Maple Leaf 
Forever," being highly applauded; after which the com- 
mittee of 12 Canadian and American young ladies proceeded 
from the grand stand to decorate the monuments and 
graves of those who had fallen. 

Dr. Alexander Eraser, F.R.S.C, M.C., Provincial Arch- 
ivist of Ontario, in a long speech dealt with the causes that 
led up to the war and the events that followed. 

The Hon. P. A. Porter next addressed the assembly. 
He stated that this historic meeting was really the initial 
step in the celebration of 100 years of peace between the 
great Enghsh-speaking peoples. He thanked them for their 
welcome and joined with them in the hope that the future 
would be as free from war as the past century had been. 



100 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

"The Battle of Lundy's Lane" was the only one fought 
near the cataract. The cataract, which was nature's 
supreme scenic gift to man, was also the noblest scenic 
symbol of peace upon the earth. 

Greater armies have met in conflict, but a greater test 
of patriotic bravery, and a battle more closely associated 
with the beautiful in nature the world has never known. 
Tl was a series of desperate charges and hand to hand 
conflicts fought after dark by the light of a waning moon, 
while the roar of Niagara became a moan of pity for the 
wounded, and an everlasting requiem for the dead. 

Both nations had forgotten the old-time animosities, 
and both paid tribute to the memory of the brave men 
who fought here; and both of them looked forward to a 
continuance of that greatest of all blessings, "Peace on 
earth, good-will amongst men." 

Dr. James H. Coyne, F.R.S.C., of St. Thomas, then ad- 
dressed the meeting, eulogizing the bravery of the com- 
batants on both sides, declaring, however, that it had been 
a futile war, leaving all the points for which it had been 
fought as they were. 

The choir then sang "O, Canada," after which Col. Fred 
MacQueen recited Duncan Campbell Scott's poem, "The 
Battle of Lundy's Lane." An old man from the County of 
Lincoln was asked if he remembered the war and the poem 
is his answer. 

Mr. Geo. D. Emerson of Buffalo followed, after which 
Miss Carnochan read a sonnet composed by her for the 
occasion: 

The Chairman next introduced Mr. Frank H. Sever- 
ance of the Buffalo Historical Society, who said that a 
speech at that time of day would be tantamount to a re- 
newal of hostilities, and he declined to be guilty of the 
offense, though he had a few remarks to make. He had 
noticed in connection wuth the work of the Buffalo His- 
torical Society, that a goodly i)roi)ortion of their records 
came from Canada, for whicli he was obliged to them. 




THE CANADIAN YOUNG LADIES OF THE INTKIINATIONAL COMMITTEE AND 
THEIR CHAPERON. MRS. ARISON. LEFT TO RIGHT — MISS WINIFRED 
OLMSTED. MISS VERENA ZYBACK. MISS MARGUERITE MORSE. (MRS. 
ARISON. CHAPERON). MISS GRACE GEARY, MISS CATHARINE BUTTERS. 
MISS GERTRUDE LUNDY. 




THE V.MFKICW Yor\(; I.AIMKS AM> CHAPERON. MRS. ARISON. LEFT To 
RIGHT— MISS KATHERINE HAMILTON. MISS HAZEL HULLS. MISS MARION 
DEVEAUX. (MRS. ARISON. CHAPERON). MISS HELEN KAMMERER. MISS 
MARARET CAIN. MISS MATTIE McGAHEY. 



PRESS REPORTS 101 

Gradual growth of good-feeling showed the present to he 
hettcr than the past; today and tomorrow hetter than 
yesterday and the day hefore. (iod grant that llie time 
might never come when the citizens across the water would 
not have as good a welcome as had been given them in this 
place today. 

An address followed by Clarence M. Warner of the 
Ontario Historical Society, Napanee, in which he spoke of 
the good work done by the Historical Society. 

Chief Hill of Six Nations addressed the gathering, 
pointing out that only a month ago they had been the 
guests of the United Empire Loyalists at Thorold. They 
were glad to be here today at this celebration of 100 years 
of peace, and glad also on account of the fact that their 
forefathers had given assistance to the British Arms. The 
men of the Six Nations were not savages, but a self-sup- 
porting community. Sometimes they envied their neigh- 
bors in the Reserves who were under no expense, while 
here they were under laws which were against the Indian. 
He asked all to use their influence with those in power, and 
tc regard them as brothers who had shared in the defence 
of Canada. He was sorry to bring up their grievances at 
this time, but they had no other opportunity. In con- 
clusion, he thanked the Committee kindly for the honor 
paid the Six Nations in being asked to send delegates. 

As the hour was getting late. Colonel Smith apologized 
for not reading his paper, and after a few remarks from 
the Chairman, the meeting concluded by the choir of school 
children singing "God Save the King." 

Mayor Dores then stepped forward and presented Mr. 
Wm. Dalton, who has been Superintendent of Lundy's Lane 
Cemetery for over 38 years, with a medal in recognition of 
his long service and of the occasion, to which Mr. Dalton 
suitably repUed. 

A word of thanks is due Mr. Chas. Bennett Kaye for 
the splendid handling of the choir of school children, whose 



102 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

rendering of the several pieces selected left nothing to be 
desired. 

Amongst those present and who signed the register 
were: 

His Honor Sir John Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of 
Ontario. 

Clarence M. Warner. 

James H. Coyne, President, Elgin Historical Institute, 
ex-President Ontario Historical Society. 

Justice A. Griffin, Vice-President Wentworth Histori- 
cal Society. 

Clyde Caldwell, Major R. A., Secretary to the Lieuten- 
ant-Governor. 

Alexander Eraser, Provincial Archivist of Ontario, 
Toronto. 

Janet Carnochan, Second Vice-President, O. H. S., Pre- 
sident Niagara Historical Society. 

W. Houston, M.A., Toronto. 

Mrs. J. B. Simpson, delegate W. C. H. S., Ottawa. 

Eva G. Read, W. H. S., Ottawa. 

Andrew Braid, Essex Historical Society, Windsor. 

George R. Pattulio, Past President, O. H. S., Wood- 
stock. 

John F. Langan, Elgin Historical Society, St. Thomas. 

Col. G. Sterling Ryerson, President U. E. L., Toronto. 

Major E. A. Williams, Toronto. 

H. E. Salbury, Guelph. 

James H. Keefer, Thorold. 

T. E. Moberly (Osgoode Hall), U. E. L., Toronto. 

J. Forster, U. E. L., Toronto. 

Mr. G. W. Gribbard, Napanee. 

Augusta Isabella Grant Gilkison, Brantford, (daughter 
of former Superintendent of Indians.) 

Canon Austin Jarvis, U. E. L., Toronto. (Father took 
Laura Secord to Fitzgibbon). 

Lt.-Col. A. E. Belcher, U. E. L., Toronto. 



PRESS REPORTS 103 

Hon. Peter A. Porter, Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Grand- 
son of Gen. Porter, who fought in battle, 1814). 
George D. Emerson, Butlalo. 
Edward T. Williams, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 
A. F. Hunter, Secretary O. H. S., Toronto. 
Helen M. Merrill, Hon. Sec, U. E. L., Toronto. 
Frank H. Severance, Secretary Buffalo Historical 

Society. 

S. R. Williams, Municipal Chapter, D. O. E., St. Cath- 
arines. 

F. E. Eccles, St. Catharines. 

J. H. Land, Hamilton. 

S. F. Passmore, M.A., President Brantford Historical 
Society. 

Elizabeth Lundy (aged 87 years) . 

Representatives of Six Nations Indians : 

Chief J. W. M. Elliott Oshwekin (Mohawk) . 

Chief David John (Onondaga) . 

Chief David Jack (Seneca). 

Chief John C. Martin (Speaker, Mohawk). 

Chief Abraham Lewis (Mohawk). 

Chief Josiah Hill, Secretary S. N. C. (Tuscarora) . 

Chief Hilton M. Hill (Seneca) . 

Chief W. W. Loft and Jim Ossalin. 

Gordon J. Smith, Superintendent Six Nations. 

H. C. Hill (Oneida). 

F. E. W. Secord, Guelph. 

Mrs. John Miller Horton, Buffalo, Regent Buffalo 
Chapter Daughters of American Revolution. 

Mrs. F. Bartlett Steele, Buffalo, ex-Secretary Bullalo 
Chapter, N.S.D.A.R. 

Sarah Sabrina Sw^ain, Secretajy Niagara Frontiefr 
Buffalo Chapter U. S. D. of 1812. 

Robt. W. Dodd, Buffalo, Society Sons of Revolution. 

J. Davies Barnett, O. H. S., Stratford. 

Earl Buttery, Niagara Falls, N.Y. (grandson of John 
B. Buttery, 1814). 



104 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

W. Pcttit, Lockport, N. Y. 

W. H. Cole, British Vice-Consul, Buffalo. 

H. Stanley Barrows, Head Master of De Veaux College. 

John Chester Barrows, 2nd. 

W. D. Barrows. 

Stephen R. Wood, Chaplain U. S. Army, Fort Niagara. 

Major Joseph Clement, Virgil (86 years old). 

Major J. Beck, President of the Veterans of '66, To- 
ronto, and 35 others. 

W. Gibson, Secretary 1866 Veterans. 

Robert Hazelton, Todmorden, Ont., 1885 Veterans. 

Mr. C. O'Connor, Ottawa. 

Col. and Mrs. D. Douglas Y^oung, Toronto. 

Major Clyde Caldwell. 

Thomas P. Hart, Oxford Historical Society. 

A. M. McComb, O. H. S. and Niagara H. S. 
Mr. H. L. Morphy and Miss Barnett, the decoration 
committee of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, decor- 
ated 40 graves in the Drummond Hill Battle Cemetery of 
British and Canadian soldiers, and three Americans; two 
former members of the Historical Society, and three sol- 
diers' graves in the old cemetery east of the Methodist 
Church. 

The base of the monument was treated as a mauso- 
leum, it containing the remains of many unknown soldiers. 

The U. E. Loyalists of Toronto sent a wreath for 
tlic first grave, which is dated 1797, and is that of John 
Burch. 

The Ottawa Women's Historical Society sent a laurel 
wreath for the battle monument, bearing the inscription: 
"Honor the brave dead of Lundy's Lane." 

Great praise is due to the Lundy's Lane Historical 
Society, of which Mr. Geary is President, for their great 
patriotism, and the splendid manner in which the cele- 
bration was planned and so successfully carried out. 



PRESS REPORTS 106 

Peace Has Victory on Field of Lundy's Lane. 

Centenary Observance of Bloody Field of 1814 Wit- 
nessed Dedication of Representatives of Canada 
and United States to Proposition of Peace. 

From Niagara Falls Journal, N.Y., U.S.A., Monday, July 27, 1914. 

Niagara Falls, Ont., July 27. — The observance of the 
Battle of Limdy's Lane on Saturday under the auspices of 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society was a success in every 
respect. The speakers, both American and Canadian, paid 
high tribute to the men whose efforts were responsible for 
the splendid celebration. The keynote of the addresses 
was peace. 

Sir John Gibson. 

After an invocation by the Rev. Andrew D. Robb and 
an address of welcome by Mayor Dores, Chairman Arison 
of the Historical Society's Committee on Arrangements, 
introduced Sir John M. Gibson of Hamilton, Lieutenant- 
Governor of Ontario. 

"The purpose of to-day's gathering," said he, "is not so 
much to recall the details of the campaign on the Niagara 
frontier as to recognize in a general way the patriotic 
valor of our ancestors and to join in a general expression 
of satisfaction and gratitude that for a full century the 
two nations have lived side by side in amity and friendship, 
that might by any possibility result in war is simply un- 
thinkable. 

"Of all battles fought during the three years' cam- 
paign, Lundy's Lane probably witnessed the most stub- 
bornly contested. The havoc of lives on both sides was 
awful. The rapid charges with the bayonet were of them- 
selves sufficient to render this engagement conspicuous. 
Traits of real bravery and heroic devotion were displayed 
by those engaged which would not suffer by comparison 
with those shown at the storming of St. Sebastian or tlic 
conflict at Quatre Bras. 



106 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

"It is no disparagement to the prowess of the invading 
army to say that their determined onsets were met by an 
army equally determined to hold this country and that in 
the result they held their ground. 

"Time has amply shown that there is room on this 
continent for two great Anglo-Saxon nationalities. One 
hundred years have developed in the American republic 
one of the greatest — in many respects the greatest — and 
most powerful nations in the world. We cling to the com- 
mon Mother Country, bound to her, not by chains of obli- 
gation, but by ties of filial affection. We wish to maintain 
for all time the closest and most friendly relationship with 
our brethren of the great republic, but we shall never 
cease to sing with heart and soul 'God Save the King.' " 

Clarence M. Warner 

Amity and fellowship were the keynotes of all the 
addresses. Clarence M. Warner of Toronto, President of 
the Ontario Historical Society, dwelt on the cordial rela- 
tions that obtain between the border peoples. 

"We should be thankful to our American guests be- 
cause they come to us in a spirit of peaceful fellowship," he 
said, " a fellowship which is bound to make these two great 
countries friends for all times. Let me assure our neigh- 
bors that there is a genuine, deep-rooted good-feeling for 
them and their country in the hearts of intelligent Cana- 
dians. Both countries have a few who like to believe that 
they are enemies, but they make a poor showing when the 
real pulse of the two countries is tested. No better example 
of this great friendship could possibly have been given than 
the wonderful display of affection shown in the reception 
accorded William H. Taft by an audience composed of the 
learned men of Toronto last January." 

Peter A. Porter. 

Peter A. Porter, whose grandfather. General Peter B. 
Porter, fought in the Battle of Lundy's Lane, dwelt on the 



PRESS REPORTS 107 

history of the frontier. "To us who dwell along this famous 
river — the only point on the continent where the war of 
1812 w^as waged continuously and which bore the brunt 
of that struggle — it is a pleasant thought that the friendly 
relations between those on the two sides of the boundary 
are closer at this well-known spot than at any other point 
along our far-flung border-line. 

"Mightier armies have met in conflict on lields of 
greater renown. But a fiercer struggle in proportion to the 
numbers engaged, a severer test of patriotic bravery, the 
world has never known." 

George D. Emerson 

George D. Emerson, who had part in the ceremonies 
attending the re-interring of the remains of the American 
troops on the field of Lundy's Lane in 1898, gave a dramatic 
recital of the battle of 1814, pointing the battle lines and 
the movements of the troops. 

"Which side was right and which side was wrong," 
he said, in conclusion, "it seems to me, need have no part 
in our thoughts today. It is sufficient for us of this gener- 
ation to know that there was nothing on either side for us 
to feel the blush of shame. It was a contest where British 
courage was matched against Yankee pluck, and if there 
■*yas a coward or a shirker, history has left no record of it. 

"It is not national union that the world wants, but 
international co-operation; not one government, but 
friendly relations between separate and independent 
nationalities, each in its own way working out its destmy 
and contributing to the upbuilding of humanity." 

Frank H. Severance. 

Frank H. Severance, Secretary of the Buffalo Historical 
Society, said in part: 

"The Battle of Lundy's Lane was not only one of the 
world's greatest battles, but it was one of the longest. It 
has been continuously fought for 100 years. Marathon and 



108 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Thermopylae, Hastings and Waterloo, came to a definite 
end and history is in no uncertainty as to the result. From 
the Plains of Abraham to the battlefields of South Africa 
British arms have won decisive victories. So they did here, 
if you read British history; if you read Canadian history. 
If 5'ou read some American records of it the decision is 
reversed. This battle has waged in the books for 100 years. 

"I assume that for today an armistice is proclaimed, 
when we can put aside the ancient disputes and meet in 
amity and fraternity. To-morrow, if you insist, the merry 
war can be resumed for another century. 

"I know nothing of war, never having seen any; but 
my judgment is that a great deal of nonsense is talked 
about peace. It is very academic to assert that war is hor- 
rible, exhausts a country, puts off prosperity and delays 
development. It is also a bit inaccurate to assert that Great 
Britain and the United States now are on a full century of 
unbroken peace. Officially, it is true; we have not shot each 
other since the days of Lundy's Lane, but every student of 
history knows that many a time in our diplomatic relations 
this peace has come near breaking and amity has wavered 
among the peoples. We do not promote a cordial and 
happy future by misrepresenting the past. Today is better 
than yesterday; all the yesterdays of a hundred years. 

"God grant that the time may never come when I — 
when any citizen of my country — may not visit this hal- 
lowed spot with the same assurance of friendly welcome 
that you extend to us today and with clear appreciation of 
the principles for which this hill was defended." 

An ode, composed by Miss Janet Carnochan, of 
Niagara-on-the-Lake, was read by her. 

Other speakers were Dr. Alexander Eraser, F.R.S.C, 
Provincial Archivist of Ontario; Dr. James H. Coyne, 
F.R.S.C, of St. Thomas, and Chief Hill of the Six Nations 
reservation at Bran I ford. 

Under direction of Professor C. Bennett Kaye of this 
city a chorus of about 500 school children sang the national 



PRESS REPORTS 101) 

anthems of both countries. As they sang the children 
waved flags of both nations. 

To President R. W. Geary, President of the Lundy's 
Lane Historical Society, W. H. Arison and other officers of 
the society great credit is due. For it was under the direc- 
tion of these men tliat plans for the observance of the battle 
were formulated and carried on. 

Prominent among those present at the observance 
were descendants of many of the soldiers, both Rritish and 
American, who fell in the battle on Drummond Hill. They 
were Miss Jennie McKenzie, who lives in the old bridk 
house at Lundy's Lane and Victoria street. The place was 
occupied by her great-grandfather during the war; Mrs. 
William M. Johnson of Lewiston, a granddaughter of Gap- 
tain Philip Tufford, one of the fighters; D. G. Edwards of 
Prospect street, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a veteran of the 
Spanish-American war, whose grandfather, Gornelius 
Bourroughs, was one of the foremost figures in the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane; Miss Emily Peck of Wyoming, N.Y., 
granddaughter of Lieutenant Phineas Stanton, who was a 
member of the staff of General Peter B. Porter; Earl But- 
tery, and his sisters, Mrs. W. D. McEwen and Miss Addie 
Buttery, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., grandchildren of John 
Belden Buttery, a private in Gaptain Trull's company of 
the Twenty-third United States Infantry. There were many 
others present who could claim distant relationship to some 
of those killed in the battle. 

One of the most interesting features of the programme 
was the display of rehcs of the battle and buttons worn on 
the coats of British and American soldiers who gave their 
lives for the flags they loved. These were from the col- 
lection of R. W. Geary, President of the Historical Socie'.y, 
and other collectors. 

In the hne of march from the Victoria avenue Arm- 
ory to the battleground were more than 2,000 men, includ- 
ing contingents from all the military bodies in the district. 
The parade was scheduled to start at 2 o'clock, but it was 



110 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

nearly 2.30 o'clock when Lieutenant-Colonel Fred W. Hill 
of the 44tli Regiment, who was in command, gave the 
order to march. 

In the van were about 50 mounted Royal Canadian 
Dragoons of Toronto in command of Major D. D. Young. 
Other military forces represented were the 37th Haldimand 
Rifles in command of Captain Hagarth, the Army Service 
Corps of Toronto in command of Major J. C. Allan; the 
7th Field Battery of St. Catharines in command of Captain 
Bell and Lieutenant Lancaster; the Army Medical Corps 
of Toronto, commanded by Major E. B. Hardy; The Royal 
Canadian Regiment of Toronto, commanded by Major 
Kaye, and about 100 strong, the Queen's Own Rifles of 
Toronto, commanded by Lieutenant B. L. Johnson; the 
Royal Grenadiers, commanded by Captain Ryerson 
of Toronto; the 91st Highlanders of Hamilton, and the 
48th Highlanders of Toronto, commanded by Lieutenant 
Henderson of Hamilton; the 77th Wentworth Regiment of 
Dundas, commanded by Lieutenant F. E. Leonard, and 
Companies A., G. and F. of the 44th Regiment, this city, 
under command of Captains Guy B. Gordon, Charles Van- 
dersleuys and D. A. R. Cameron. 

Veterans of the Fenian Raid, in command of Captain 
Charles McMicking, followed the soldiers. Next in line 
were the veterans of 1866 in command of Major Beck of 
Toronto. There were only four survivors in line, C. Wake, 
Major Cooper, John Halls and Arthur Such. About 40 boy 
scouts were in line under command of Scout Master George 
Anderson. Next came the Collegiate Institute Cadets, 50 
in number, commanded by Lieutenant Musgrove. The 
United Empire Loyalists, members of Court Clifton, Inde- 
pendent Order of Foresters, the mayors and members of 
the City Council from the Twin Power Cities and repre- 
sentatives of the Six Nations followed. The city officials 
and some of the old veterans rode in carriages and auto- 
mobiles. 

The Six Nations, commanded by J. W. M. Elliott, had 



PRESS REPORTS 111 

a prominent place in the parade. The Six Nations were 
represented by these men: Mohawks. WilHam Loft and 
Abraham Lewis; Senecas, David Jamieson and Jacob Gen- 
eral; Cayuga, Joshia Hill and Richard Hill; Tuscaroras, 
William Hill and Peter Glaus; Oneidas, David John and 
Lawrence Jonathan; Onondagas, Gordon J. Smith. 

Chief Elliott, in charge of the Indians, is an interesting 
character. He is 87 years old, but despite his years is as 
active as the majority of men at thirty. Chief Elliott smiled 
in contempt when one of the officers asked him if he would 
prefer to ride in a carriage, and answered: "No, thanks, 
that little walk of two miles to the battleground is good 
exercise. I would be ashamed to be seen in a carriage," 
he added, "when I am more able to walk than most of your 
young braves." 

The Lane, decorated with bunting and banners on 
which were emblazoned the regiments which so gallantly 
fought for the flags they loved one hundred years ago, pre- 
sented a beautiful scene. 

The Niagara Falls Band, the Italian Band, the 19th 
Regiment Band of St. Catharines and the 44th Regiment 
Band of this city played the national anthems of both 
countries. A chorus of about 500 public school children, 
dressed in uniforms of red, white and blue, and carrying 
American and British flags, sang the national anthems. 

The graves of the dead soldiers and the soldiers' monu- 
ment, which stands just inside the entrance to the ceme- 
tery, were decorated wdth flow ers and flags by twelve young 
women, six from either side of the river. The Canadian 
committee was composed of Grace Geary, Verena Zybach, 
Gertrude Lundy, Catharine Butters, Marguerite Morse, 
Winifred Olmsted; the American committee of Helen 
Kammerer, Leah Turney, Margaret Cain, Mattie McGahey, 
Hazel Hulls, Marion Deveaux. 



112 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

International Peace Song 
Words by J. F. Beam, Black Creek, Ontario, Canada. 

Copyright applied for. To Music, "Star Spangled Banner." 
O say do you know, wondrous change hath been wrought 
By the hundred years peace between John Bull and 
Jonathan? 
Once they both drew the sword, and their countrymen 
fought 
Over trifling disputes, rushed to war, every valiant man. 
When the carnage was o'er, and the surfeit of gore, 
The loss of brave men we still ever deplore. 

Now peace and good will here so strongly prevail 
That demon of war ne'er can assail. 

Since they both sheathed the sword, and their frontiers 
disarmed, 
Peace and friendship sincere spread thro-out every Eng- 
lish state. 
Their past hatred and wars, which all nations then 
harmed. 
Now their century's peace let the whole world help 
celebrate. 
Every vale, mount and hill, ocean, river and rill, 
Let resound with a song, and acclaim of good will. 

May peace and good will 'mong all nations prevail, 
So the demon of war never more can assail. 

Since the spirit of peace stopped the horrors of war, 
See their countrymen meet like real brothers fraternally, 

Kindreu peopie and race, of same language and lore. 
May good will among men be their true guide eternally. 

Let their flags both entwine, when they cross border line. 
With each other commune, fraternize, feast or dine. 

Angel spirit of heav'n spread throughout the earth. 
Peace and friendship secure, as the Anglo-American 



PRESS REPORTS 113 

Nations then great and small, with the new Christian hirth, 
Shall disarm their frontiers, like the Yankee-Canatlian. 

Then the war-blind shall see neighbors true can agree, 
That the whole of mankind should world brotherhood be. 



Anniversary of Great Battle of Lundy's Lane 

is Commemorated in Song and 

Patriotic Speeches. 

Exercises Under Auspices of the U.S. and Canada — 
Parade of Military and Civic Bodies Preceded Cere- 
mony in the Cemetery Where Lie the Bones of 
the Heroes of 1812 — Many Distinguished 
MenandWomenTookPartinProgramme 
From the Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday, July 25, 1914. 
Niagara Falls, Ont., July 25. — (Special.) — On the his- 
toric field of Lundy's Lane, wliere, one hundred years ago 
today, the armies of two countries, the United States and 
Great Britain, contended fiercely for supremacy, repre- 
sentatives of those two nations are this afternoon jointly 
commemorating that struggle and paying homage to the 
memories of the brave men who fell in that sanguinary 
conflict. No animosity is felt today between the descend- 
ants of those patriots. The flags, which, on that memor- 
able occasion were flouted in defiance of each other, are 
today entwined in peace and the adherents of each standard 
of colors are brothers in the fight for world peace and 
fimity. 

Could any of those brave men who faced one another 
in deadly combat gaze upon the scene today they would 
find an almost incomprehensible change. The quiet of 
peace and brotherly love hovers over the spot where once 
the roar of cannon and the crack of musketry echoed 
among the hills sounding the death knell of those brave 
spirits of other days. A monument, erected through the 
joint eff'orts of the two nations then embroiled in war, 
now keeps a silent vigil over the graves of the dead and 



114 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

garlands of flowers are laid in loving remembrance and 
patriotic devotion on the little green mounds. 
Fervent Prayer for Peace. 

And amid this scene is being carried out today a pro- 
gramme of patriotic exercises participated in by many 
prominent men and women on both sides of the border 
line, all protesting the sincerity of their friendship for one 
another and joining in the fervent prayer that the peace 
that has continued for one hundred years may be main- 
tained forever. 

Lundy's Lane presents an animated scene today. Be- 
sides martial bodies of troops from the regular and volun- 
teer estabhshments of the Dominion, civic bodies are assem- 
bled to commemorate the eventful battle. School children 
are gathered to sing anthems of peace and thanksgiving 
and to honor the memory of those gallant men who fell 
a century ago. Men learned in historical lore are there to 
present their testimonials to the worth of those gone before 
them, and to cement, as far as they may, the bond of 
friendship that must surely bind two great peoples to- 
gether in the interest of peace. 

Exercises Begin. 

The exercises today began at 1.45 o'clock with a mili- 
tary and civic procession, followed by patriotic exercises 
that will occupy the remainder of the afternoon until 5 
o'clock. Enthusiastic spectators from both sides of the 
river, from points near and far, witnessed the procession 
and heard the addresses by the distinguished speakers, re- 
presenting both nations. The national airs of the United 
States and Great Britain were played alternately while 
the people with uncovered heads, lustily sang the national 
anthems. It was a wonderful sight and one which must 
be an object lesson to all the people of the earth. The 
celebration today will do more toward establishing a world 
peace than all the arguments that could be crowded into 
a lifetime of oratory on the subject. 



PRESS REPORTS 115 

The procession, which formed at the Armojy of the 
44th Regiment in Victoria avenue, was under the command 
of Lieut.-Col. Fred W. Hill. It consisted of military con- 
tingents representing all branches of the Canadian service 
and headed by the 19th Regiment Rand; representatives 
of the Veterans' Associations of Ontario; Chiefs of the Six 
Nations and other Indians; Niagara Falls Collegiate Insti- 
tute Cadets; Citizens' Rand of Niagara Falls, Ont.; Ontario 
Historical Society; His Worship, Mayor O. E. Dores, and 
city officials; United Empire Loyalists of Canada; His 
Honor, Mayor William Laughlin, and city officials of 
Niagara Falls, N.Y.; the Niagara Frontier Historical So- 
ciety, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; historical and patriotic societies 
of both nations; city and county school boards; Centenary 
Peace Celebration Committee of Niagara Falls, Ont., and 
Niagara Falls, N.Y.; civic and fraternal societies; and the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

Programme on the Rattleground. 

The procession moved to the battlefield and on arrival 
a I the Lundy's Lane monument was disbanded and the 
civic exercises began. 

After the invocation by the Rev. Andrew D. Robb, an 
address of welcome was made by Mayor Oliver E. Dores. 
The mayor, at the conclusion of his remarks, introduced 
as the first speaker of the afternoon. His Honor Sir John 
M. Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of Canada, who dealt at 
length on the significance of the occasion and paid a 
glowing tribute to the memory of the men who fell in the 
war. 

Monument is Decorated. 

The Canadian anthem, "The Maple Leaf Forever," was 
then rendered by a chorus of school children, after which 
followed one of the most happy incidents of the day— the 
historical decoration of the monument and graves of those 
who fell in the battle, by a committee of twelve Canadian 



116 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

and American young ladies, during which a mihtary band 
played "Abide With Me." The young ladies representing 
Niagara Falls, Ont., were the Misses Grace Geary, Verena 
Zybach, Gertrude Lundy, Catharine Butters, Marguerite 
Morse, and Winifred Olmsted. Those representing the 
United States were the Misses Helen Kammerer, Leah 
Turney, Margaret Cain, Mattie McGahey, Hazel Hulls and 
Marion DeVeaux. 

The ceremonies then closed with the presentation ot 
commemorative medals to the distinguished guests by Mr. 
R. W. Geary, President of the Lundy's Lane Historical 
Society, and a series of patriotic and historical 
addresses by Dr. Alexander Eraser, F.R.S.C, Provincial 
Archivist of Ontario; the Hon. Peter A. Porter of Niagara 
Falls, N.Y.; Clarence M. Warner, President of the Ontario 
Historical Society; George D. Emerson, Buffalo; Dr. James 
H. Coyne, F.R.S.C, St. Thomas, Ont.; Frank H. Severance, 
Secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society; Chief Hill of 
the Six Nations; Rev. Dr. William Wallis, Niagara Falls, 
Ont., and others. 

An interesting feature of this part of the programme 
was the recitation by Col. Fred McQueen of Duncan Camp- 
bell Scott's poem, "The Battle of Lundy's Lane." 

A much appreciated feature of the centenary celebra- 
tion was an exhibit of miUtary relics of the United Empire 
Loyalists and early settlers near the monument in the 
cemetery. 

One Hundred Years After the Battle of 
Lundy's Lane. 

Brotlicrs from two Western nations meet on this hill today, 
Not to light the battle over, nor to stand in war's array; 
But to give thanks and adoration to the Lord of Peace, 
And pray our Heavenly Falher, that cruel wars may cease. 
Over all this beautiful earth, may peace reign all supreme. 
\nd love to our Creator and all mankind the theme. 



PRESS REPORTS 117 

Oh, may there be no more such scenes, of sorrow and of 

pain, 
Viewed one hundred years ago, on this Hill at Lundy's 

Lane. 
Our hearts are fdled with gratitude, as we meet here today, 
And give the friendly handclasp to brothers from o'er the 

way. 
We welcome them to pray and praise with us our Lord 

and King, 
Making the hills re-echo while we all His praises sing. 
We appreciate the blessings showered through the years 

gone by. 
The grand inheritance we have, both of land and sky. 
The abundance that is gathered from forest, stream and 

plain. 
And thankful, we all meet as friends, today at Lundy's 

Lane. 

We are loyal to our country, this Canada so vast. 
We're loyal to Great Britain, that helped us in the past, 
Each year we try to make our laws much better than before. 
To have righteousness and purity spread from shore to 

shore. 
Our brothers o'er Niagara are praying for the same. 
While we meet here together, on this battleground of fame. 
Where, one hundred years ago, foe and patriot were slain. 
Now brothers meet as brothers, on this Hill at Lundy's 

Lane. 

Step lightly as you tread o'er a low green grassy mound. 
For 'neath it rests a patriot's dust, this is sacred ground. 
Forest oaks stand there like sentinels o'er each lonely grave; 
Heroes are not forgotten, in memory flags above thcni 

wave. 
Niagara chants a requiem throughout the night and day, 
Organists upon church organs, beautiful anthems play. 
The birds sing their sweetest carols, o'er and o'er again, 



118 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Praising Him, who keeps two brothers from war at Lundy's 
Lane. 

Jennie Mackenzie, 
July 25, 1914. "The Oaks," Lundy's Lane. 



The Speaking at Lundy's Lane. 

Editorial from "The Globe." Toronto. 

The local managers who prepared the programme 
and organized the centennial function at Lundy's Lane on 
Saturday deserve unqualified praise for their versatiUty, 
hospitaUty, and tolerance. The weather was, in spite of 
the heat, admirably suited to the occasion, and the spot 
could not have been better chosen; within earshot of the 
cataract the dais was erected on the very crest of the hill 
over which the tide of battle surged forward and backward 
far on into a pitch-dark night. 

The speeches were in harmony with the motive of the 
celebration, because, while they did full justice to the 
heroic foemen, they embodied the spirit of perennial peace 
between the nations they represented. Sir John Gibson 
struck the keynote of the collective utterances when he 
affirmed war between them to be "unthinkable." Such 
speeches on such an occasion — for this was the commem- 
moration of a battle, not a peace convention — will do 
much to bring about the fulfillment of the aspiration for 
continued peace, which was the most persistent sentiment 
heard from the platform on that memorable spot and day. 



Lundy's Lane. 

Editorial from Niagara Falls Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y. , 
July 25, 1914. 

Representatives of the United States and of the British 

Empire are meeting to-day on the historic field of Lundy's 

Lane in commemoration of the last great conflict that 

occurred between the people of these two countries and to 

pledge anew their friendship and brotherly love — a friend- 



PRESS REPORTS 119 

ship that has endured for one hundred years and which 
will continue through eternity if the fervent prayers that 
go up over the little green mounds in Drummond Hill 
Cemetery this afternoon are granted. 

Men and women, prominent in the affairs of both 
nations, are met today to jointly acknowledge the gracious 
kindness of Providence that has permitted them to Uve 
thus in peace and amity and to implore divine direction 
for a continuance of this harmony and good will. 

It is a most remarkable observance of a most remark- 
able event — the century of 100 years of peace — that is being 
witnessed on the border land today and it will have its 
influence on all of the nations of the earth. There is a 
greater force in this demonstration — a greater argument in 
the appeal for world-peace than could be crowded into 
hours of argument or pages of cold type. 

As the Hon. Peter A. Porter, this afternoon eloquently 
declared, in his patriotic address before the assembled 
people: 

As Lincoln said at Gettysburg: "The world will note 
what we say here, but it will never forget what they did 
here." 

Both of us have forgotten the animosities of the long 
ago. Both of us pay tribute to the memories of the brave 
men who fought here. And both of us look forward N\ith 
earnest hope, to a continuance of that greatest of all bless- 
ings. 

Peace on earth, good will 'mongst men. 
From Heaven's Eternal King; 
And for the past, with its peaceful days, 
We gratefully join in the hymns of praise 
Which the blessed Angels sing. 



120 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Lundy's Lane-1814-1914. 

(July 25) 

From the Flaneur, Mail and Empire, July 25, 1914. 

In Lundy's Lane the robins sing, 

And blackbirds pipe their merry lay, 

The sparrow flits on restless wing, 

The air is sweet with new mown hay. 

O'er the grassy mound by the old church wall 
The summer breezes gently stray, 

They stir the leaves of the maples tall, 
And mingle with the sunbeams' play. 

'Tis a scene of peace and beauty fair. 

That greets the happy passer-by, 
As he breathes the balmy summer air, 

And gladly looks on earth and sky. 

But o'er this fair and peaceful scene 
One hundred years have come and gone, 

And where the grass grows rich and green 
The dead lay thick with faces wan. 

Up from the mighty river's gorge 
In serried ranks the foeman came. 

The air grew murky as a forge. 

With cannon smoke and musket flame. 

Outnumbered nearly two to one. 

The gallant Drummond stood at bay. 

Undaunted he — and with him none — 
Unworthy of that glorious day. 

For loyal sons of loyal sires. 

They fouglit for home and motherland; 
No purer love the heart inspires 

Than glow'd within that patriot band. 



PRESS REPORTS 121 

Now hast'iiing up the river bank, 

Cheered on by Scolt at Brown's command, 

The foemen form, and rank on rank, 
A threatening army they expand. 

The word is given — then, on they rush, 

'Mid cannon roar and musket flame, 
Like avalanche's fearful crush, 

Ah! What can balk their deadly aim? 

But hark! a rousing British cheer! 

Cheer such as thrill'd at Waterloo — 
The cheer of men who know no fear 

Save to be recreant or untrue. 

But why recall that desp'rate fight. 

Whose din outvied the torrent's roar, 
The clamor of that awful night. 

As ocean's surge on rock-bound shore. 

The fierce yet unavaiUng charge, 

Where neither weight nor numbers told. 

What need the story to enlarge 

Of deeds of might by young and old? 

Yet may the son from sire still learn — 

The price we paid for this free land, 
That bright the patriot fire may burn 

In us as in that hero band. 

Who gave up life and welcom'd death 

To keep their trust unfettered, free. 
And dying wdth their latest breath, 

Breathed love of home and liberty. 

T. E. Moberly. 
Toronto, July 23rd, 1914. 



122 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Lossing's Comment 

Of that famous battle, Lossing wrote: 

"The sanguinary Battle of Niagara Falls, sometimes 
called Lundy's Lane, and sometimes Bridgewater, has few 
parallels in its wealth of gallant deeds. It was fought 
wholly in the shadows of a summer evening betv/een sun- 
set and midnight. To the eye and ear of a distant spec- 
Jator it must have been a sublime experience. Above was 
a serene sky, a placid moon in its wane, and innumerable 
stars — a vision of Beauty and Peace; below was the sul- 
phurous smoke of the battle, like a dense thunder-cloud 
on the horizon, out of which came the quick flashes of 
lightning and the bellowing of the echoes of its voice — a 
vision of horror and strife. 

"Musket, rocket and cannon cracking, hissing and 
booming, and the clash of sabre and bayonet, with the cries 
of human voices, made a horrid din that commingled 
with the awful, solemn roar of the Cataract hard by, whose 
muff'led thunder rolled on, on, forever, in infinite grandeur 
when the puny drum had ceased to beat, and silence had 
settled upon the field of carnage. There the dead were 
buried, and the mighty diapason of the flood was their 
requiem." 



PART IV. 



LETTERS 

OF 
REGRET 



LETTERS OF REGRET 



Citadel, Quebec, July 5tli, 11)14. 
Dear Sir: — 

I am desired by the Governor-General to acknowledge 
receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and to inform 
you in reply that His Royal Highness much regrets that, 
as he starts for his Western Tour on the 23rd July, it will 
be impossible for him to accept the kind invitation of your 
Society to be present at the Celebration of the Hundredth 
Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane. His Royal 
Highness is very sorry that this is the case, as he would 
much like to have been present, and he hopes that the 
Celebration will be very successfully carried out. 
I am, dear sir. 

Yours faithfully, 

ARTHUR F. SLADEN, 

Private Secretary. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

Ottawa, Ont., July 11th, 1914. 

Sir: — 

Will you be good enough to convey to the Lundy's 
Lane Historical Society my sincere thanks for their kind- 
ness in inviting me to be present and to deliver an address 
upon the occasion of the celebration of the 100th Anniver- 
sary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane on the 25th of July at 
the monument on the battle ground, Niagara Falls, Canada. 
I regret that engagements in connection wath pubhc duties 
prevent me from accepting the invitation. May I be per- 
mitted, however, to send my best wishes that the Cele- 
bration may be successful in every way. 

Yours faithfully, 

R. L. BORDEN. 

R. W. Geary, Esq., 

Niagara Falls, Ont. 



126 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

House of Commons, Canada, 

Ottawa, August 10th, 1914. 
Dear Sir: — 

Owing to his extended absence from the city, it has 
been impossible for Sir Wilfrid Laurier to acknowledge 
ere now the receipt of your favor of July 2nd. He wishes 
me at this moment to convey to you the expression of his 
sincere thanks for the courteous invitation which you for- 
warded to him on behalf of the Lundy's Lane Historical 
Society, to attend the Celebration of July 25th. 

Believe me, 

Yours respectfully, 

J. L. GIGNEAU, 
Private Secretary. 
Mr. R. W. Geary, 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 



Office of the Prime Minister and President of the 
Council, Ontario. 

Toronto, July 2nd, 1914. 

Dear Sir: — 

Sir James Whitney regrets that other engagements 
prevent him from being able to accept the invitation of 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society to be present at the 
occasion of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane on July twenty-fifth. 

Yours very truly, 

HORACE WALLIS, 

Secretary. 

R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 



LETTERS OF REGRET 127 

Ontario Department of Education, 

Toronto, July 3rd, 1914. 
Dear Sir: — 

The Minister directs nie to thank you for your kind 
invitation to be present at the Celebration of the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane on the 25th inst., and to express his 
regret that his public engagements will prevent him from 
attending. 

Your obedient servant, 

A. H. U. COLQUHOUN, 
Deputy Minister of Education. 

R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 



Heydon Villa, Toronto, 3rd July, 1914. 

R. W. Geary, Esq., 

Dear Sir: 

Many thanks for your letter of the 29th June, and 
for the invitation to the Celebration of the 100th Anniver- 
sary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane. I regret very much 
that I will not be able to be with you. I unveiled the 
monument in 1895, and would have liked so much to join 
you on the 25th inst. I am leaving, however, for Prince 
Edward's Island on the 13th and cannot be present. 

Yours very truly, 

GEORGE T. DENISON. 



128 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

The Canadian Bank of Commerce, 

Toronto, 16th July, 1914. 
Dear Sir: — 

Sir Edmund Walker regrets that he is unable to be 
present at the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the 
Battle of Lundy's Lane on the 25th instant. 

Yours faithfully, 

G. L. MARSHALL. 
John H. Jackson, Esq., C.E., 

Secretary, The Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 



The Evening Telegram, 

Toronto, July 17th, 1914. 
John H. Jackson, Esq., C. E., 

Secretary Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

Dear Sir: — 

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your kind invita- 
tion to be with you on the 25th inst. at the Celebration of 
the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane and 
am very sorry that I shall be unable to be present, as I am 
leaving for England the early part of the week. 

Yours faithfully, 

J. ROSS ROBERTSON. 



Militia and Defence, Canada, 
Calgary, Aha., July 8, 1914. 
Dear Sir: — 

I have to acknowledge and to thank you for your 
letter, dated the 3rd instant, advising me that the Lundy's 
Lane Historical Society intend to commemorate the One 




THE AMERICAN MEMORIAL TO CAI'T. HULL AND EIGHTEEN U. S. SOLDIERS; 

ERECTED ON THE SPOT WHERE CAPT. HULL FELL LEADING THE LAST 

CHARGE OF THE AMERICANS. 




THE CHOIR OF SCHOOL GIRLS ON THE WAY. 



LETTERS OF REGRET 129 

Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane on 
the 25th, and inviting me to be present on that occasion. 
I regret to say that at the time of writing it seems scarcely 
possible for me to accept. This is deeply regretted by me, 
and I have to request that you will be so good as to convey 
to the members of the Society and others present whose 
acquaintance I have had the pleasure of making in the 
past, my warmest congratulations and best wishes for the 
future. I trust that this patriotic commemoration of this 
well-fought battle may be most successful in every respect. 

Yours truly, 

E. A. CRUIKSHANK. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

Niagara Falls, Ont. 



Toronto, Canada, July 13, 1914. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President, Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

My Dear Sir: — 

The Niagara Falls Park Commission feel honored in 
being invited to be present at the 100th Anniversary of 
the Battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25th, 1914, and I have 
forwarded your kind invitation to the Park Superin- 
tendent, in order that he may communioate with the 
members of the Board and ascertain whether they will 
be able to attend. Mr. Jackson will communicate with 
you further in due course. 

Yours very truly, 

J. W. LANGMUIR, 

Chairman. 



130 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Poinlc Au Pic, Murray Bay, Que., 

July 23, 1914. 
Dear Sir: — 

I have only recently reached Canada from England 
and find your invitation for the interesting events of the 
25th. I regret very much not to be able to be present. It 
is well that we should be reminded of past struggles 
which have helped to make us what we are. I rejoice to 
see a feeling abroad that permits citizens of the United 
States to join in your celebration. 

Yours very truly, 

GEORGE W. WRONG, 
Professor of History in the University of Toronto. 



165 Broadway, 
New York City. 
Mr. R. W. Geary, 

Niagara Falls, Ontario, 
Canada. 
My Dear Mr. Geary: — 

I appreciate very much the invitation to attend the 
commemoration to be given by the Lundy's Lane His- 
torical Society on July 25th, and regret very much that it 
is impossible for me to accept owing to other engage- 
ments. 

Very truly yours, 

J. E. HEDGES. 



The Antiquarian and Numismatic Society of Montreal, 

Montreal, 18th July, 1914. 
R. \V. Geary, Esq., 

President of Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

The members of the Antiquarian and Numismatic 



LETTERS OF REGRET 131 

Society of Montreal send greetings to their confreres of 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society and wish them suc- 
cess in the Centenary Celebration of the most important 
event in Canadian history of which their Society was 
named to commemorate. 

Yours truly, 

R. W. McLACHLAN, 

Hon. Secretary. 



Militia and Defence, Canada, 

Major-General Lessard regrets that he is unable to 
accept the kind invitation of The Lundy's Lane Historical 
Society to the Celebration of the One Hundredth Anni- 
versary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane on Saturday, July 
25th, at two o'clock. 

Camp — Niagara-on-the-Lake, 
17th July, 1914. 



R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President, Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

Dear Mr. Geary: — 

I thank you very much for the invitation of the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society to be its guest upon the 
occasion of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of 
the Battle of Lundy's Lane on the 25th July. 

As I am about to leave for a business trip to Quebec, 
I very much fear that I will not be back in time to partici- 
pate in this function. Will you please convey my thanks 
to the Society? 

Yours very truly, 

C. H. MITCHELL. 



132 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

American Consular Service, 
Toronto, Ontario, July 16, 1914. 
John H. Jackson, Esq., 

Secretary, Celebration Committee, 
Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

Dear Sir: — 

I wish to acknowledge with thanks the invitation of 
the Lundy's Lane Historical Society to the Celebration of 
the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's 
Lane on the 25th instant, and to express my regret that 
the urgent demands of my office work will not permit me 
lo be present on that interesting occasion. 

I have the honor to be. Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 

JULIUS D. DREHER, 

American Consul. 



310 Lansdowne Avenue, Westmount, 

Montreal, 17th July, 1914. 
R. W. Geary, Esq., 

President of Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 
Niagara Falls, Ont. 

Dear Sir: — 

Will you kindly convey to the members of your 
Society my most sincere thanks for their generous invi- 
tation to participate in the "Celebration of the One Hun- 
dredth Anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane." As 
also to express my deep regret on account of my inability 
to be present, the more so as everything relating to the 
war of 1812 is of the deepest interest to me. 

My interest centres especially round the numismatic 
and medallic souvenirs of these stirring times and historic 
events in Canadian history. Having in my collections 
nearly all the medals relating to that war in my collection. 

Yours truly, 

R. W. McLACHLAN. 



LETTERS OF REGRET 133 

Canadian Peace Centenary Association, 
Hope Chambers, Ottawa, July 15, 1914. 

John H. Jackson, C.E., 

Secretary Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 

Niagara Falls, Ont. 
Dear Sir: — 

I am favored by your invitation to attend the cele- 
bration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of Lundy's 
Lane, and very much regret that it will be impossible for 
me to be present on that occasion. 

I am, 

Yours faithfully, 

E. H. SCAMMELL, 

Organizing Secretary. 



PART V, 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 

ON THE 

COMMEMORATION 




LUNDY'S LANE— SHOWING THE BATTLFJFIELD AND MONUMENT, HISTORI- 
CAL EXHIBITION PAVILION, AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 




IT WAS A (;i;ka'1' day. 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES ON THE 
COMMEMORATION 



"Impressions of the Day." 

By Miss JANET CARNOCHAN, Historian, Niagara Historical Society. 

HAVING been asked to give my impressions of the cel- 
ebration of "The Day," I may explain first that hav- 
ing been a member of the Lundy's Lane Histori- 
cal Society for many years and having attended many of its 
anniversaries, I naturally wished to attend the centenary of 
the battle. Too much cannot be said as to the care and skill 
of the officers of the Society in the preparations for the 
event. Everything seemed to have been thought of and the 
result was a complete success. But what struck me most in 
all the varied parts of the programme was not the pleasant 
meeting of friends, historical and military, at the most 
excellent lunch provided at the Clifton House, though that 
was most enjoyable. Nor was it the procession, striking 
SS that was, nor was it the gaily decorated tents and the 
grounds filled with crowds, nor was it the school children 
dressed in white with wreathes of maple leaves pretty as 
the sight was, nor the speakers eloquent as they were, nor 
was it the tent with the collection of relics remarkable and 
thought-inspiring as it was, nor was it the group of girls 
(an international group), bringing wreathes for the monu- 
ment and the graves of those who had met in deadly strife 
a century ago, but it was the sea of faces, men, women 
and children of different nationahties assembled here in 
memory of those who a century ago had shed their life's 
blood so valiantly. Many in that assemblage had come 
miles and sat or stood for hours in that blazing July sun 
to listen to the story of those who after marching and 
counter-marching had fought while the sun sank lower 



138 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

rnd lower and night came on and still they fought on in 
the dark nor thought of yielding. We their descendents 
could not but think of the peace and plenty which we 
enjoyed through their endurance and courage. Nor did 
we dream that day that while congratulations were being 
exchanged for the almost century of peace and hopes ex- 
pressed for a world peace that so soon the war dogs would 
be unleashed and a world war be in progress, one that we 
hope will result in a lasting peace giving freedom to all 
and security to the weaker nations. 

I may mention one striking incident known to myself. 
I had been asked to bring anything from our historical 
building relating to the Battle of Lundy's Lane. On look- 
ing carefully over our catalogue and our cases I found the 
only article which had been at the battle was a scarlet coat 
much injured by the hand of time and dispoiled of buttons 
by the relic hunters, the coat of Col. Daniel MacDougal, 
whom I remembered as a stately soldierly old Highlander, 
the treasurer of the County of Lincoln. He had enlisted in 
a company in Glengarry as shown by the written permis- 
sion of Col. G. Macdonell and his commission signed by 
General Brock in 1812 may yet be seen. He was in the 
Glengarry Light Infantry and lay all night on the hill with 
seven wounds and was reported mortally wounded but 
lived to old age, carrying to his death a bullet in his body. 
A letter of Bishop Macdonell is in existence congratulating 
bim on his recovery. I had engaged to take the coat and 
spsh myself and was glad that I had done so, as there was 
rot another coat or article of clothing which had been worn 
at the battle in the collection, although a fine one consisting 
of weapons, buttons, badges, documents. But the most 
striking sight was being brought to the platform. Led by 
a stalwart young otficer, an old lady, Mrs. Newton, the 
daughter of Col. MacDougal, and I believe there was besides 
her neither son nor daughter of any one wiio had fought 
at Lundy's Lane, though grand-children there might bo. 
Lieutenant-Governor Gibson was greatly interested in the 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 139 

appearance of Mrs. Newton, and referred to her presence 
in his address. The same young officer led her carefully 
and courteously from the platform, and the thought came 
that here was one who must have often heard the thrilling 
tale of that night's hand to hand fight and of the long night 
of agony and how near to being part of that holociist of 
fire when so many of the dead bodies were in that hot 
July day reduced to ashes. 

It is well that their deeds are remembered. It has 
been well said that "He who takes no pride in the deeds of 
his ancestors will never do anything of which his descend- 
ents may be proud," so let us keep green the memory of 
those who shed their blood for us and secured to us a 
heritage in this goodly land. 



Report of Mrs. J. R. Simpson, Special Dele- 
gate to the Centenary, to the Women's 
Canadian Historical Society of Otta- 
wa, November 13, 1914. 

A Short Account of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle 

of Lundy's Lane and Peace Celebration, Held 

at Niagara Falls, Ont., July 25, 1914. 

Read before the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa, 
November 13, 1914 

Today, our convictions are being expressed in deeds, 
not words — throughout the British Empire all races are 
springing to the aid and answering the call of the Mother- 
land — but, all was peace, when, in response to the cordial 
invitation of the President and members of the Lundy's 
Lane Historical Society, to our President and members of 
Ihe Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa, you 
were represented by your Treasurer, Miss Roth well; 
Librarian, Miss Read; and Recording Secretary, Mrs. Simp- 
son, as accredited delegate. 



140 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Starting by difTerent ways and dates, this happy trio 
met in Toronto on Friday morning, 24th, and soon found 
themselves under the hospitable wing of an invaluable mem- 
ber of our Society, Mrs. E. J. Thompson, whose home is 
now in Toronto. After a delightful luncheon with her at 
the "Alexandra," we embarked on the Str. "Chippawa" 
for Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the yearly military camp 
is held, and where our friendly guide initiated us into 
every spot of historic interest, including Miss Carnochan's 
"Memorial HaU." 

Saturday morning we took the train for Niagara Falls, 
arriving at the Clifton Hotel at 10 o'clock. We were met 
by Mr. Clarence Warner, President of the Ontario His- 
torical Society; Mr. R. W. Geary, President of Lundy's 
Lane Society; Mr. Jackson, Secretary-Treasurer, and Park 
Supt.; Dr. Coyne of St. Thomas; and many of our old 
convention friends, and introduced to many new American 
cousins. 

The day, like our reception, being very warm, we chose 
the motor drive to the grounds, instead of falling in with 
the order of the procession — the extent of which can be 
imagined: — ^The military, under command of Lt.-Col. Fred 
Hill; other military contingents; Veteran Associations of 
Ontario; Cadets; Ontario Historical; U. E. Loyalists; Mayor 
Dores and Aldermen af Niagara Falls, Ont., and Mayor 
Laughlin and Council of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Chiefs of the 
Six Nations and other Indians; Historic and Patriotic So- 
cieties of both nations; Centenary Peace Celebration Com- 
mittees of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and New York, etc. 

Arriving at the battlefield, now Drummond Hill Ceme- 
tery — the sight was inspiring — everything en fete with 
flags and flowers. How changed from the scene of 100 
years ago! Over the grand stand ran the motto: — 
"Upon this hill we pause and list to memories far, 
When from this sacred height boomed forth the roar of 
war." 

Tiers of seats in front held the happy, maple-crowned 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 141 

school children, who interspersed the speeches with patri- 
otic songs. 

The chairman of the celebration, Mr. Arison, intro- 
duced the speakers. Ceremonies were opened by an Invo- 
cation for continued peace by Rev. Andrew Robb, and an 
address of welcome was given by the Mayor, Mr. Ohver 
Dores. Sir John Gibson, the Lieutenant-Governor of the 
Province of Ontario, was accorded a fine reception. In his 
address, referring to the patriotic valor of our ancestors 
which had given us such a glorious heritage, he declared: 
"There was room on this continent for two great Anglo- 
Saxon peoples to live in amity, and that after 100 years of 
friendship war was now unthinkable." (What a good 
thing for us on this continent that we respect our "Scraps 
of Paper!") 

Among other patriotic and historic addresses of special 
note were those of:— the Hon. Peter A. Porter, grandson 
of General B. Porter who commanded the American forces 
Id the Niagara Falls, N.Y., section of the War of 1812. As 
a member of their State Legislature, he secured the fran- 
chises for the Niagara Falls Power Company, is counted 
the historian of the Niagara Frontier, and is chairman of 
the Niagara Falls 100 Years Peace Committee. May I 
quote from him in part? He stated that this historic meet- 
ing was really "The initial step in the celebration of 100 
years of peace between the great English-speaking peoples. 
Benjamin Frankhn remarked at the Treaty of Paris, 'This 
closes the War of the Revolution, but the real war of inde- 
pendence is yet to be fought.' That was the war of 1812, 
and its results established the United States in its position 
on the earth, made Canada a more integral part of the 
British Empire, welding its loyalty into concrete form, and 
kid the foundation of its greatness. The Battle of Lundy's 
Lane was the only. one fought near the Falls of Niagara,; 
the cataract, which was Nature's supreme scenic gift to 
man, was also the noblest symbol of peace upon earth." 
He was followed by Mr. Clarence Warner, President of the 



142 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

Ontario Historical Society; Dr. James Coyne of St. Thomas; 
Chief Hill of the Six Nations Indians, Brantford; and last 
but by no means least, Mr. Frank Severance, Secretary of 
the Buffalo Historical Society, who declared, "A speech at 
this time of day would be tantamount to a renewal of hos- 
tilities," of which he declined to be guilty, though he had a 
few remarks to make. Col. Fred McQueen's recitation of 
Duncan Campbell Scott's poem, "The Battle of Lundy's 
Lane," aroused much enthusiasm — an old man from Lin- 
coln was asked if he remembered the war — and this is the 
touching poetic narrative, Rufus Gale speaks, 1852. Many 
of you may have noticed the appropriate reprint of this 
poem in the Ottawa Journal of November 7th, and its 
application to the present war. 

A committee of twelve white-robed young ladies from 
both sides of the border, decorated with flowers the monu- 
ments and graves of the fallen heroes, while we placed our 
tribute, a laurel wreath, on the base of the Battle Monu- 
ment," of which Kirby, at the unveiling on July 25th, 1895, 
said: "This pillar fair of sculptured stone, will show for- 
ever, in the light of glory; how England and Canada stood 
fast that night — at Lundy's Lane, and conquered for the 
light." The remains of twenty-two soldiers of the Royal 
Scots, 89th, 103rd, and other British regiments lie in the 
vault beneath this granite shaft. 

The Exhibit tent was full of military relics of the 
battle, domestic relics of the U. E. LoyaUsts and early 
settlers, and your delegate was fortunate in viewing it all 
early, under the guidance of Mr. Geary, who surely earned 
the reward of his labors in the appreciation of those 
present. Here our Librarian found her American cousin 
(Hon. P. Porter), who gallantly treated our party to Tea, 
while Mrs. Thompson secured another snap shot. 

History making is going on at a rapid rate these days, 
and we trust our Scrap Book Committee is keeping faithful 
and accurate record — thus contributing to the historical 
knowledge of future generations. Sir George Foster re- 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 143 

minds us, in one of his invaluable addresses, that, "We arc 
the makers of history in this generation in which we live, 
and the sense of that responsibility, each doing our little 
share faithfully, working upon every thoughtful mind, 
would make of us all better citizens, better men and belter 
women." 

By American writers the scene of this Centenary Cele- 
bration is frequently called the Battle of Bridgewater or 
Niagara Falls; in the British official records it is known by 
the name of Niagara, and, in commemoration of this fact, 
the Royal Scots, 8th, 41st, and 89th bear that word em- 
blazoned on their colors; but, amongst Canadians it re- 
ceives the familiar appellation of Lundy's Lane. 
"And yet the story is ours to repeat, 

Of the field that was to decide. 
That nation should neighbor with nation. 
As friends in their friendship confide." 
We respect our "Scraps of Paper." The Treaty of 
Peace and Amity stands inviolate to-day. 
J. RUSSELL SIMPSON, 

Hon. Rec. Secretary and Delegate. 



Special Report to the Ontario Historical So- 
ciety, at the Annual Meeting, Toronto, 
June 2, 1915. 

The Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane. 

By R. W, Geary (President of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society). 
When the one hundredth year of Ontario's greatest 
battle came round, a desire arose along the Niagara Fron- 
tier, and throughout the whole Niagara district, for a 
fitting commemoration to mark the Centenary of this 
important engagement at Lundy's Lane — with its far- 
reaching national results, in a way that would be also a 
righteous tribute to the memory of the British and Can- 



144 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

adian heroes who so gallantly fought and fell in defence 
of their country and their homes upon that blood-stained 
field, where "Honor decks the turf that wraps their clay." 

Naturally the Lundy's Lane Historical Society was 
looked upon to inaugurate and carry out this patriotic 
function, and the undertaking was a heavy one for a small 
society whose members were much engaged in their busi- 
ness affairs. It necessitated, too, considerable originality 
and tact in the preparation of its programme to conform 
agreeably with the local and international feelings, wdshes 
and prejudices. The financial assistance of two thousand 
dollars was furnished by the Dominion Government — 
through the Right Hon., the Premier, Sir Robert L. Borden, 
and the society proceeded at once with the preliminary 
work by becoming a general celebration committee, and 
after several weeks of strenuous work all arrangements 
were completed. 

Saturday, July 25, 1914, proved to be an ideal summer 
day, and the sun rose on the city bright with decorations 
for the great event for which the Mayor proclaimed a 
holiday. 

The proceedings commenced with a reception and 
luncheon at the "Clifton Hotel," where a large number of 
distinguished visitors and local guests were entertained 
by the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, among whom 
w^ere Col. Sir John M. Gibson, K.C., Lieutenant-Governor 
of Ontario, and Lady Gibson; the Mayor of Niagara Falls 
City; the local members of Parliament; the President and 
members of the Ontario Historical Society; Dr. Alex. Era- 
ser, Provincial Archivist, and Mrs. Eraser; Lieutenant- 
Colonel Hill, and other officers commanding the military; 
the President and members of the U. E. Loyalists of 
Canada; Canadian and American Historians; the U. S. 
Chaplain, Fort Niagara, and delegates from Historical and 
Patriotic Societies of both nations. 

After luncheon the exercises began with a military 
and civic procession under Lt.-Col. Hill, which formed at 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 145 

the Armoury. It consisted of detachments from the Royal 
Canadian Dragoons, Queen's Own Rifles, 44th Regiment, 
St. Catharines Field Battery and other Corps, who, with 
their hands, headed the procession, which included the 
City Council and ofificials of Niagara Falls, N.Y., the United 
Empire Loyalists' Association, Veterans Societies of Canada 
and United States, Collegiate Institute Cadets, Historical 
and Patriotic Societies of both nations, City and County 
School Boards, the Centenary of Peace Committees of boih 
cities. Chiefs of the Six Nations Indians, Civic and Fra- 
ternal Societies, Lundy's Lane Historical Society and citi- 
zens of both countries. 

The procession moved through crowded and artistic- 
ally decorated streets to the historic battleground where 
great crowds awaited. A temporary stand was erected 
near the monument, curtained with large) British and 
American flags and hung with historical banners especially 
made and inscribed with the names of the British and 
American Generals and every regiment of both nations 
that took part in the battle, with the chief officers — above 
all being the inscription: — 

"Upon this hill we pause and list to memories far, 
When from this sacred height boomed forth the roar of 
war." 

After the procession arrived on Drummond Hill, 
amidst the silent monuments and tombs of the nations' 
heroic dead all briUiant with flags and flow^ers, the scene 
on the battlefield became most impressive and inspiring; 
the mihtary with their bands formed around the speakers' 
platform, occupied by the Lieutenant-Governor and dis- 
tinguished guests, with the mounted troops in the back- 
ground, and the enthusiasm reached its height as the vari- 
ous Historical and Patriotic Societies took up their allotted 
positions and the vast audience of fifteen thousand people 
closed in — while hundreds of school children sang "The 
Maple Leaf Forever." 

The Invocation and Mayor's Address of Welcome 



146 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

followed and His Honor, the Lieutenant-Governor of On- 
tario, delivered a vigorous address on behalf of the Pro- 
vince, emphasizing the significant fact of the two nations 
li^'ing in amity for one hundred years, and the bravery 
and heroic devotion displayed that night by the British 
&nd Canadian forces against an equally heroic foe, enlarg- 
ing upon the greatness of the national heritage preserved to 
Canadians by the valor of their forefathers. Dr. Alexander 
Eraser, Provincial Archivist, in a splendid historical and 
patriotic address on the war and its causes, added a deep 
philosophical view to the question, and eloquently dwelt 
on the glory of Simcoe's Settler fighting for his home and 
flag as the initial basis of Canadian patriotism and glowing 
tradition and love of home. The versatile and sociable 
American historian, the Hon. Peter A. Porter, pronounced 
a most eloquent and impressive address in which com- 
mingled the glorious historical traditions of the Niagara 
Frontiers with their natural beauty and sublimity. Dr. 
James H. Coyne's views showed deep study of the under- 
lying phases of the war of 1812 and its influence on the 
progress of Canadian affairs during the last century. 

The eminent historian and peace advocate of Buffalo, 
Mr. Geo. D. Emerson, gave a definite description of the 
position of the contending forces during the engagement, 
and their movements, and expressed his admiration at 
the splendid record left by Briton and American alike by 
their pluck and gallantry in this famous battle. Mr. Clar- 
ance M. Warner, President of the Ontario Historical So- 
ciety, dwelt on the cordial relations that obtain between the 
border peoples, of thankfulness to our American guests 
for their spirit of i)eaccful fellowship which is sure to make 
the two great countries friends for all time, and of the good 
feeling among intelligent Canadians for their neighboring 
nation. Dr. F. H. Severance, Secretary of the Buffalo His- 
torical Society, referred to the continuous dispute among 
historians and the claims of both sides to the victory, and 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 147 

expressed his appreciation of the iriendly welcome always 
extended to him and to Americans when visiting tliis hal- 
lowed spot. 

The patriotic recitation of Col. Fred MacQueen was 
splendidly rendered and applauded by the large audience, 
r.nd the prophetic and appropriate sonnet, written especially 
on request by Miss Janet Carnochan, were important lit- 
erary contributions to the programme. 

Chief Hill, of the Six Nations Indians, made a short 
address on matters affecting the Indians. One of the most 
interesting events of the day was the historical decoration 
of the British Battle Monument, and the American Soldiers 
Memorial, with symbolic wreaths and bouquets of flowers 
by six Canadian and six American maidens dressed in 
white, while the band played "Abide With Me." 

The intense interest of thousands of visitors in the 
exhibit of battle relics and historical and artistic antiqui- 
ties, shows that Canadians have a keen appreciation and 
taste for artistic things, and for objects with historical 
associations. And the issuing and presentations by the 
society of a silver medal, especially struck for the occasion, 
to the distinguished guests, met with the greatest appreci- 
ation on their part, letters of approval having been received 
from Sir Robert Borden, Sir John Gibson and others, and 
also from Art Museums and Educational Institutions of 
Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, where they were presented 
by the Society. It seems that this is the only Centenary 
medal struck to commemorate an event of the war of 
1812-14, being an artistic and permanent memento. The 
Society went to great trouble to search out and honor the 
memory of every U. E. Loyalist and early settler buried in 
Drummond Hill Cemetery, by decorating each grave with 
a wreath and flags. This feature was deeply felt by the 
very large number of descendants of those who took part 
in the battle who were present, and a special decoration of 
the first grave, dated 1797, in the cemetery, was made by 
the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, by a 



148 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

beautiful iloral wreath. Mrs. Simpson followed by laying 
a magnificent wreath on the Battle Monument on behalf 
of the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa. 

The programme was then closed by a few remarks by 
the Chairman, Mr. W. H. Arison, and the singing of "God 
Save The King." 

Tlie object of the demonstration was to foster Cana- 
dian patriotism — the best national asset in time of stress — 
by reviving interest in this great decisive event in our his- 
tory; and there is no doubt that all the Historical Societies 
of Ontario have done much to develop the patriotic spirit 
now exhibied by Canadians, who, from a few hundred 
thousand people of a century ago, are now fast becoming 
the strong sustaining right arm of Great Britain, with the 
spirit and energy of their forefathers and with the highest 
ideals of culture, progress, and civilization of modern 
times. May we ever stand for Justice and Truth, and Peace, 
p.nd Generosity, and become a great exemplary of that 
Righteousness which exalteth a nation. 

The Society is compiling a publication with the Cen- 
tenary addresses in full and a detailed account of the pro- 
ceedings, and also erecting a Memorial bearing a tablet in- 
scribed: "This Memorial is erected to commemorate the 
celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Battle 
of Lundy's Lane, held here, July 25, 1914, under the aus- 
pices of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society." 



The New Lundy's Lane Centenary Memorial. 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society has recently com- 
pleted the erection of a beautiful and interesting memorial 
on Drummond Hill to perpetuate the Centenary Celebra- 
tion which was held there some years ago. 

The memorial consists of two finely-proportioned 
blocks of Danish granite of a very dark-grey color, upon 
which is mounted an artistic bronze tablet 32 x 22 inches, 



HISTORICAL ARTICLES 149 

emblazoned in high relief with the enlarged "Arms" or 
seal of the society; supported on either side by the dates 
1814-1914, and bearing the following inscription: 

"This memorial is erected to commemorate the cele- 
bration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the Rattle of 
Lundy's Lane, held here July 25th, 1914, under the aus- 
pices of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society." 

The site, which was kindly given by Mr. John H. 
Jackson, superintendent, on behalf of the Park Commis- 
sion, is excellently located in an open area a short distance 
southeast of the Rattle Monument which the memorial 
faces. 

The stone work was carried out by Messrs. Rigg Rro- 
thers of this city, and the bronze tablet was executed by 
the Architectural Rronze and Iron Works of Toronto. The 
committee in charge was composed of Mr. Robert Chisholm 
(Chairman), Rev. Canon Revan, Mr. J. H. Jackson, C.E., 
Mr. James C. Morden and Mr. R. W. Geary. 

This new landmark is a decided addition to the noted 
group of monuments and memorials upon the historical 
battlefield, and will be one of interest to visitors, and to 
those who were present at that memorable patriotic func- 
tion. 



Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

The Lundy's Lane Historical Society was organized in 
1887, and has the distinction of being the oldest historical 
society in the Province of Ontario. The late Rev. Canon 
RuU was its founder and first President, and the late James 
Wilson, C.E., Park Superintendent, its lirst Secretary- 
Treasurer. 

During the thirty-two years of its existence, the Society 
has done very important work in securing the erection of 
enduring memorials on several historic battlefields of the 
Niagara Frontier, and by the publication and promotion of 
authentic historical literature — in which it was greatly 



150 THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION 

aided by Col. E. A. Cruiksliank, F.R.S.C., the talented his- 
torian of the War of 1812-14. Much encouragement, too, 
has been given to the study of local history through public 
lectures and papers by prominent historians — and to the 
preservation of historical relics. The Lundy's Lane His- 
torical Society's collection of war relics and antiquities, 
and the many private collections of antique mahogany 
furniture, old china, pictures, Indian relics, military but- 
tons, etc., in the possession of its members, are of great 
historical and artistic interest. 



[THE END] 



officers of the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 

Honorary President . . . Brigadier-General E. A. Cruikshank 

Honorary-Secretary John H. Jackson, C. E. 

President R. W. Geary 

1st Vice-President H. L. Morphy 

2nd Vice-President Rev. Canon Bevan 

3rd Vice-President Rev. William Wallis, Ph. D. 

Secretary-Treasurer J. C. Morden 

Auditors R. Chisholm and C. C. Cole 

Executive Committee: 
C. C. Cole, R. Chisholm, John H. Jackson, F. H. Leslie, 
H. P. Stephens, Miss Barnett, Misses Crysler, Miss Butters 
and Mrs. Birdsall. 



Publications of the 
Lundy's Lane Historical Society. 



The Battle of Lundy's Lane, by Colonel 

Cruikshank, F.R.S.C 50 pages, 15c. 

The Siege of Fort Erie, by Col. Cruikshank, 

F.R.S.C 50 pages, 15c. 

The Battle of Queenston Heights, by Col. 

Cruikshank, F.R.S.C 46 pages, 15c. 

The Fight in the Beechwoods, by Col. Cruik- 
shank, F.R.S.C 32 pages, 10c. 

Butler's Rangers, by Col. Cruikshank, 

F.R.S.C 114 pages, 20c. 

Drummond's Winter Campaign, by Col. 

Cruikshank, F.R.S.C 30 pages, 10c. 

Laura Secord, by Mrs. S. A. Curzon 16 pages, 5c. 

Annals of Niagara, by Wm. Kirby, F.R.S.C. 270 pages, 40c. 
Niagara 100 Years Ago, by Miss Carnochan 270 pages, 15c. 
A Century Study, by Rev. E. F. Fessenden. . 26 pages, 10c. 
The Documentary History of the Campaigns 

ui)on the Niagara Frontier, in 1812-14, 

by Licut.-Col. Cruikshank, F.R.S.C. 

(Complete in 9 vols, of about 300 pages 

each) , per vol 50c. 

Memorial of the 100th Anniversary of the 

War of 1812-14, by R. W. Geary .... 16 pages, 5c. 
The Centenary Celebration of the Battle 

of Lundy's Lane. Illustrated 160 pages, $1.00 

The above publications are for sale at the Society's 
Rooms, Public Library Building. 

All requisitions for books by mail should be sent to 
The Secretary, Lundy's Lane Historiail Society, Niagara 
Falls (South), Ontario, Canada. 



W 77 78 



■^''^. 




■ ^ 






^^ '^"^O^ 






V^ * „ 




» 










4^ -l'aL:- ^ V' 





°'--j^:.'^°o /.c:^-"-?, /-iii;:-.^ 
p- ^°'"*^ -J 






c 



-^^ -0.1 






